OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: Recipients of the Satya Harischandra Award 2006 at a function organised by the Saidabad Errakunta Hindu Smashana Vatika Samkshema Samithi in Hyderabad on Sunday.

HYDERABAD: It was a felicitation with a difference. One that sought to honour individuals for their exceptional services in an area where few think of venturing. These four persons have spent their lifetime striving to improve the conditions of a place where the final journey concludes -- a cemetery.

The Saidabad Errakunta Hindu Smashana Vatika Samkshema Samithi conferred Sri Satya Harischandra awards - 2006 here on Sundayon Rajwant Singh Gulati, Krishna Rao, Vittalappa and Pochanath. The award was named after Satya Harischandra, the king who abdicated his throne and even his family for the sake of truth.

Gulati, a resident of Alwal, has developed a "modern graveyard" in Alwal by providing all amenities, including landscape gardening in the sprawling two acres of open land. "I developed the ground with an intention to remove fear about Smashanghat among people. It's more like a garden than a graveyard," Mr. Gulati, a civil engineer said.

Eye donation

Another feature of this cemetery is that relatives of deceased persons will be consulted for eye donation before cremation. As many as 228 persons have got eyesight till date with the initiative taken up by Mr. Gulati. "I personally consult family members of the deceased persons for eye donation when they come to complete the formalities before cremation," he said.

According to Mr. Gulati, firewood and other material, besides ambulance facility will be provided free to poor families. "Anyone who visits this place doesn't feel it like a cemetery. It's a swarg dham," Mr. Gulati said.

MLA's assurance

The Government has allocated separate land for the graveyard 20 years ago.

Krishna Rao, Vittalappa and Pochanath, all residents of Saidabad, also contributed for the development of the graveyard on Saidabad main road. They also took necessary steps in protecting the land from being grabbed.

Malakpet MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy, who presented the awards, said he would extend all support for the development of the Saidabad cemetery. Meanwhile, residents named their locality after Sri Satya Harischandra.

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