Shillong (Meghalaya), March 5: The Meghalaya High Court has stepped in to address the pressing issue of inadequate crematoria facilities in the state. The court’s intervention comes after concerns were raised about families being forced to travel long distances to cremate their loved ones.
Currently, there are only 27 cremation services in Meghalaya, with a substantial number concentrated in Jowai . The court has ordered district officials to meet with Hindu and indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities to explore the possibility of sharing cremation facilities with separate timings for different communities.
In a previous order dated October 25, 2024, the court noted that the government had proposed setting up new electric hybrid crematoria in several locations, including New Shillong, Tura, Jowai, and Nongpoh. However, none of these projects have been completed or made functional.
The lack of progress on this issue has raised concerns about the state’s ability to provide basic facilities to its citizens. The court’s intervention is seen as a crucial step towards addressing this critical issue and ensuring that families are not forced to travel miles to perform last rites for their loved ones.
