MP govt's salute for body donation: 76-year-old man gets 'guard of honour' during last rites

Barwani, Oct 30 (PTI) A 'guard of honour' was accorded to a 76-year-old man who died of age-related ailments in Barwani district in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday as part a government resolve to honour the act of organ donation.

Praveen Joshi, who died on Wednesday night, had pledged to donate his body, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Surekha Jamre said.

It was the second time a body donor was given a 'guard of honour' in the district, Jamre added.

During a 'guard of honour', uniformed police personnel or soldiers stand in a line with their weapons. On the command of the officer leading the guard, the members of the squad bring their weapons to the 'salute' position to express respect for the person concerned.

After the 'guard of honour', Joshi's mortal remains were sent to a private hospital in Indore, officials said.

Joshi was originally a resident of Gujarat and had been living alone in Barwani for the past thirty years.

Social worker Ajit Jain said, "In the last days of his active life, Joshi used to apply henna on women's hands using a special stencil." The state government had decided that individuals who donate their bodies and organs after death will be given a 'guard of honour', usually reserved for distinguished persons and VVIPs. PTI COR HWP MAS BNM