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Free cremation services for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families have been launched in Tamil Nadu by the Isha Foundation.State municipal administration minister, K N Nehru, inaugurated the service in Chennai on Tuesday. The free service is meant to help families who may struggle to pay for final rites. The Foundation currently runs 17 gas crematoriums in partnership with the Tamil Nadu government and is set to take charge of three more. A member of the Isha Kayantha Sthanam team, Maa Gurudasi, said the organisation has been managing these crematoriums for around 15 years across several districts.“For the past 15 years, under Sadhguru’s guidance, IshaFoundation has been managing crematoriums in several districts of Tamil Nadu in partnership with the state government. In these facilities, Isha has revived ancient traditions and death rituals with a powerful energy basis, conducting them in the spirit of service rather than as a commercial venture,” Maa Gurudasi said. She said the staff try to handle the process with care and sensitivity so that families feel supported during a difficult time.Staff members receive training to handle bodies respectfully and to maintain the quiet, solemn atmosphere expected at these facilities. A separate mandapam is available for families who want to perform traditional rituals.The crematoriums managed by the foundation are located in Chennai, Vellore, Thanjavur and parts of Coimbatore district, including areas such as Nanjundapuram, Veerakeralam, Thudiyalur, Podanur, Vellalore, Alandurai, Thondamuthur, Karamadai and Goundampalayam.The foundation has said it hopes to expand this model in the coming years by taking up more crematoriums across the country to ensure accessible and dignified services.
