Women Break Barriers in Mortuary Services

In a quiet corner of King George's Medical University (KGMU), four women are performing one of the most demanding jobs in public healthcare as mortuary attendants. They are an integral part of the medico-legal process, a role that became more critical during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their duties include meticulous documentation, facilitating family identification, and assisting in forensic sample collection, particularly in sensitive cases like sexual assault investigations.

These attendants work in emotionally charged environments, undertaking tasks that require technical skill, strict hygiene, and psychological endurance. They prepare bodies for post-mortem examinations and safeguard the belongings of the deceased. Despite the high-risk and sensitive nature of their work, their compensation is disproportionately low, and their contributions are often overlooked in formal healthcare narratives.

Their journey into these roles began in 2020 with the conversion of the RALC building into a dedicated Covid hospital, necessitating a specialized mortuary unit. Six additional attendants were recruited, including four women. Although the pandemic subsided, they continued their service in the post-mortem house. They remain the only women performing such ground-level duties at a post-mortem facility in Uttar Pradesh.