COIMBATORE: Drivers of the Tamil Nadu government’s free hearse service on Monday alleged that vehicles often double up as Janani Suraksha scheme vehicles to drive mothers and newborns home.“This will expose the mothers and newborns to many infections,” said hearse van driver S Krishnamurthy.However, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital resident medical officer Dr A Soundaravel denied the allegation. He said, "We have never sent mothers and babies in hearse . We have separate vehicles," he said.The drivers petitioned to the Coimbatore district collector saying that they were often made to drive the vehicle carrying two to three bodies at a time. The three bodies often belong to three different districts, leading to the last body reaching almost 12 hours later. As a result, the bereaved family verbally and physically assaults the drivers.The drivers requested the collector to sort out their issues and ensure that they were not targeted for exposing issues.Suresh Kumar from Mettupalayam said, “We are sometimes made to drive three bodies which have to be delivered to three districts—Salem, Trichy and Virudhunagar. By the time we reach Virudhunagar, which is six hours away, after 14 hours, the families are drunk, frustrated and abusive.”Drivers said dropping off three bodies hardly 10 km away was not a problem. “But when these locations are hours away and the vehicle has only one freezer box, after hardly three hours the other two bodies make the van smell,” said Krishnamurthy.“When a non-dalit people see their relative’s body next to a dalit’s person’s body, they abuse the driver for keeping the bodies next to each other,” he added.Suresh Kumar was dismissed from work four months ago for exposing these issues, said Krishnamurthy.CMCH officials said two to three bodies being transported in a vehicle simultaneously was allowed. Designs were being modified to include three freezer boxes, they added.The drivers also said they draw a salary of Rs 8,500 a month, which is lower than their demand of Rs 525 per day. “We need a salary of Rs 525 a day to manage our expenses in the current inflation rates,” Krishnamurthy added.

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