What is in the colour? Particularly if it is a hearse that transports the dead, you may ask.
But officials of the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project (TNHSP) that operate the free mortuary van service throughout the State have started changing the colour of hearses from black to white.
Repainting has already begun and two of the three vehicles in Virudhunagar district have turned sparkling white with red stripes to boot. Totally, 132 vehicles are under the TNHSP for the free service, launched under a Public Private Partnership agreement between the Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu Branch, and the State government.
Though the colour of the vehicles, carrying the departed dear ones of the poor, has been black since the launch of the service on February 26, 2011, drivers had been complaining of public resentment over the vehicles being parked near houses or business establishments, according to Kadiresan, Joint Director of Health.
Kadiresan said ‘black’ was seen as ominous or spooky by people as the colour was associated with things that are believed to be inauspicious. So at a recent meeting of TNHSP officials, the decision was made to change the colour, he said.
Now, after the two vehicles in Virudhunagar district were given a fresh coat of white paint, there has been a perceptible change in the attitude of the people towards the hearses, the drivers had reported back, Kadiresan said.
So, in a society where people dread the prospect of having to even look at a black-coloured vehicle, a hearse driver can now pull up by the kerb and have a cup of tea without being told to move the vehicle away.