800+ funerals, all free of cost: Meet the Kochi women helping families in grief

Kochi: Who comes forward to help families living in cramped homes when a loved one dies, and there is no space to carry out the final rites?

That question brought together 14 homemakers, aged between 34-year-old Hishmiya Naif and 69-year-old Sameena Bai, who have taken it upon themselves to provide dignified funeral services to families in need.

The group has so far helped with the traditional burial and funeral arrangements of more than 800 bodies. Now, with the launch of a digital app, they aim to expand and streamline their services.

The 14 homemakers, who operate through the ‘Annujoom Charitable Trust’ in Mattancherry’s Jew Town, have earned widespread appreciation for their selfless service.

Understanding the difficult living conditions in the densely populated areas of Kochi, they started a mayyith (dead-body) treatment centre in 2023.

The initiative initially began at the home of group member KM Shafeeda before the women were able to secure a dedicated space. The modern centre, built on two cents of land in Jew Town, has so far handled 810 bodies, providing families with a dignified place to complete the necessary funeral preparations.

The group has also purchased an ambulance to transport bodies from homes to the centre and then to mosques and other locations as required. All these services are provided completely free of charge.

To make the funeral assistance process faster and more accessible, the group has now launched an app called ‘Annujoom Connect.’

The app also brings together several other forms of community support, including widow assistance, care for orphaned children, patient care and general donations.

Anyone can contribute any amount, starting from Rs 1, through the app. The system has been designed to keep the identity of donors private, respecting those who do not want their contributions to be known to others.

At the same time, the group says every amount received through the app will be publicly documented and subject to transparent auditing.

Besides Sameena and Hishmiya, the group comprises Sajida Aboobacker, Shahida K. Haneef, Tasneem Junaid, KM Shafeeda, VS Naseema, VM Niveditha, Farisha Sudheer, Haseena Shamsudeen, Sameena Shahid, Suda Firoz, Reena Rasheed and Rubeena Haris.

These ordinary women, supported by small donations from members of the community, are now providing a vital source of comfort and dignity to hundreds of families in their time of grief.