SSB jawans pitch in to help cremate a dead in the absence of youth in border village
SSB jawans pitch in to help cremate a dead in the absence of youth in border village
Badri Dutt Kashniyal
Pithoragarh, Jan 2
The jawans of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), a para-military force deployed on Indo-Nepal border had to extend their helping hand in completing the last rites of a woman in Tarigaon village at Indo -Nepal border in Pithoragarh district as there were no youth in the village, due to migration, to carry the mortal remains of the dead woman to the cremation ground some 3 km away from the village.
“We had to take help from SSB jawans to take the dead body of Jhoopa Devi(100) who passed away on Friday, as there was no youth available in the village to take the dead body to the cremation ground on the banks of river Kali,” said Bhupendra Chand, an aged person from the village.
“The border post of SSB near Tarigaon, sent 4 jawans and 2 officers for the purpose after the villagers requested help,” said Ramesh Chand, 65 years old son of the deceased.
The SSB jawans, on duty at Indo -Nepal border, not only carried the firewood for cremating the body but also took the body to a distance of 3 km from the home of the deceased to complete her last rites. “The village had only 4 elderly persons available at the time while the youths have gone to cities to earn their livelihood,” said Ramesh Chand.
According to villagers, almost all the youth have migrated due to non-existence livelihood opportunities in the village.” The village had 37 families some 20 years ago, but only 13 families reside now,” said Ramesh Chand.
“Besides lack of a motorable road to the village, we have problems of wild animal destroying our crops, fruits and vegetables. The kuccha road constructed by villagers in 2019 is in a bad shape and no vehicle could enter the village. The presence of wild animals like monkeys, bear and leopards have added to the problems of the villagers,” said Bhupendra Chand.
