Multi-faith funeral centre for Indians in Sharjah

A multi-faith funeral centre for Indians in Sharjah, UAE will be opened by beginning of next year.

Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi recently announced that the funeral centre, built at a cost of $1.65 million, will open in January 2013.

On Nov. 11, Sunday, the Minister handed over a cheque for $136,000 as India's contribution to the project.

Reports said, the Minister along with the Indian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates , MK Lokesh and Consul General Dubai Sanjay Verma visited the site at Juwaiza, 25 kilometres east of Sharjah.

"There is going to be a funeral place in Sharjah (third largest city in the United Arab Emirates) for which I also paid money. It is a funeral ground for Indians from all religions. It is an Indian community project there. It is a good thing," Ravi told IANS in an interview.

"They asked me for some financial help and I paid 50 per cent. They have started work and we have already paid the money," he said.

The Indian Association Sharjah (IAS), which is spearheading the project, said the facility is designed to have four gas cremators for Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists as well as burial grounds for Muslims and Christians.

Stats by the Indian Consulate in Dubai show about 1,300 deaths of Indians annually. However, due to legal issues and high cost involved, families often find it difficult to make funeral arrangements in keeping with the last wishes.

The new facility aims to cater Indians living in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.

India had in April requested the UAE to provide land for a funeral home for Indians residing in that country when their external affairs ministers met in New Delhi for bilateral talks.

An IANS report said the Indian government also plans to make a similar plea to other governments in the Gulf region, where around six million Indian citizens live and work.