Lone post of 'dom' lying vacant for 37 years

RAJSHAHI, Oct 21: The only officially sanctioned post of dom, a person whose job is to dissect human bodies in a hospital to find out the actual reasons of deaths, has been lying vacant at the morgue of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMC) for over 37 years.
Contrary to belief, monthly salary of the lone post at the top most state-owned pubic hospital in Rajshahi is Tk20 only.
After the death of the last appointee, Dom Nishipad Das, in 1986, no one else has been picked for the post.
At present, Bipan Kumar and Tapan Kumar, two sons of Nishipad Das, are performing work of dome on a voluntary basis.
Dom is a person belonging to a lower caste community of the Hindu religion. They are marked as untouchable and are primarily engaged in handling and dissection of corpse, burial and cremation.
Earlier in different parts of the subcontinent they used to work as sweepers for their livelihood. Bereaved of a decent social status, they are treated disrespectfully.
Autopsies are to be conducted on the bodies of those who die unnatural death outside and on the bodies of the patients who die while under treatment at RMCH.
At present there is no dom appointed to perform the duties in the morgue or mortuary of RMCH.
Since the post has been vacant for a long time, 7/8 doms are working here voluntarily.
Talking to the authorities concerned, it was known that during the British period, doms were paid only Tk20 monthly salary. That Tk20 monthly salary is still prevalent.
Again, to get that Tk 20 salary one has to tag a revenue stamp of Tk10.
As a result, no one has showed interest so far in getting appointed to this position as the salary structure has not been upgraded yet.
Consequently, the lone position of dom at the hospital morgue has remained vacant for the last 37 years.
Bipan Kumar and Tapan Kumar have been working here showing love for the profession of their father Nishipad Das.
They are guided by Roni, Soni, Hridoy, Ranjan, Suman, Mohan, Babar and Sanjay. They do the work of body sewing and tying dead bodies during post-mortem and lift them onto vans.
Dom Bipan Kumar said, "Since father died, we two brothers have been doing post-mortem work here. But we are not paid any salary from here. During the British period, there was a practice of paying Tk 20 per month, which is still prevalent. To withdraw this monthly salary of Tk 20, a revenue stamp of Tk10 needs to be attached. That's why I don't want to do this job for this scrimpy salary."
"Our demand to the authorities is that they should change the salary structure in accordance with the reality and give formal appointment to the post. Then we will be freed from the life of hardship and will get social status," he added.
Subrata Paul, a development activist and good governance analyst, said, "When the prices of goods increase, the value of people should also increase. But these Dalit class people are living in hardship as their wages remain the same as before. We have tried to talk about this matter in many places, but it has not been resolved."
"After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in the anti-discrimination movement, many things have changed, but their lives have not. The authorities should consider this matter from a humanitarian perspective. It is not enough to just think, the concerned should take steps to make their lives easier. We are talking about sustainable development whereas it is said that leaving anyone behind, no development is possible. But that too will not be implemented, if the discrimination of doms is not eliminated," Mr Paul added.
Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) Principal Professor Dr. Khandaker Md. Faisal Alam said, "Recently I have been appointed as principal. As a result, I am not aware of the fact that the lone post of dom is vacant and those who are working on casual basis are not being paid. If that is the case, they must be paid a salary on a daily labour basis."

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