Lok Sabha Question No. 3192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Treating Crematorium Workers as Frontline Workers
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Aparupa  Poddar, T.N. Prathapan, Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED Q. No 3192 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 th  AUGUST 2021

## TREATING CREMATORIUM WORKERS AS FRONTLINE

## 3192. SHRIMATI APARUPA PODDAR:

SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of Health and Family Welfare be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  number  of  crematorium  workers,  funeral  service workers and burial site workers who have contracted and died from COVID-19;
- b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- c) whether the Government plans to include burial, crematorium and funeral service workers within the ambit of frontline workers, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- d) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  or  has  plans  to  formulate  a  financial  assistance package including protection kits, priority vaccination for these workers; and
- e) if so, details of the package thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTERY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (e)

Health is a state subject. Detailed guidelines for reporting of deaths have been issued by Union Health Ministry to all States/UTs. Accordingly, all States/UTs report cases and deaths to Union Health Ministry on a regular basis.

ICMR on 10 th May 2020 issued 'Guidance for appropriate recording of COVID-19 related deaths in India'

(Available at: https://www.icmr.gov.in/pdf/covid/techdoc/Guidance\_appropriate\_recording\_of\_related\_deaths\_ India.pdf ). This was widely disseminated among States/UTs.

MoHFW  vide  letter  dated  9 th October  2020  has  conveyed  to  States/UTs,  WHO  and  ICMR guidelines  on  correct  recording  of  COVID-19  related  deaths  in  accordance  with  globally accepted ICD-10 classification and also urged states to undertake periodic death audits with the aim to improve quality of healthcare services by suitable corrective measures. States/UTs were also provided with a proforma for undertaking death audits in this regard.

The  COVID-19  management  toolkit  for  District  Collectors  shared  by  Ministry  of  Health  & Family Welfare on 2 nd April  2021 with states,  also  highlighted the need for deaths audits and follow up action as one of the key monitoring parameters.

167 Central teams deployed to 33 states/UTs have also reiterated need for correct recording of deaths and undertake periodic death audits.

The data of deaths  are  obtained  from  States/UTs.  As  on  3 rd August  2021,  a  total  of  4,25,195 deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported by States/UTs.

Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  has  issued  COVID-19:  Guidelines  on  Dead  Body Management on 15 th March 2020 (available at: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/1584423700568\_COVID19GuidelinesonDeadbodymanagement. pdf),  wherein crematorium/ burial ground staff have been advised the protocol to be followed while handing dead bodies so as to prevent spread of COVID-19 infection.

Cremation ground staff are included in the category of frontline workers and as a priority group for COVID-19 vaccination.

(Available at:https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/COVID19VaccineOG111Chapter16.pdf)