‘Body was carried to St Joseph’s hospice with veggies by accident’

Addressing the media at the Press Club, Thomas said that at least one elderly person dies in the hospice every other day and it was an accident that a body was brought to the home in a vehicle carrying vegetables. “We have been taking only those who could not be maintained in government hospitals due to absence caretakers with RMO’s due permission. We would give them food thrice a day and give them vitamin pills before they go to sleep, just to make them feel better,” said the father. “Vegetable vendors in Tambaram market would give us the remains at the end of the day,” he added. 

On February 20, a driver of his firm was found carrying vegetables with a corpse, which triggered an investigation into the running of his hospices. “The van also had another woman sent by local police. But the issue has been diverted to spread malign about the institution,” he added. 

Thomas said that they got permission seven years ago for concrete vault burial system which they are using to dispose of the dead bodies by the then Kancheepuram Superintendent Manoharan.

“It is the most effective and an economical way to bury a dead body. This ancient method has been revived and is practised in more than 150 places in Kerala. The bones which are being stored in the vault will be burned after it gets filled up,” he said.