AMBIKAPUR,CG: Chhattisgarh Former Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singhdeo and his nephew Adityeshwar Sharan Singhdeo have taken a significant step toward social responsibility by donating their organs on Thursday. The organ donation was facilitated through Aryan Sinha, a lifelong member of the Red Cross Society, who provided them with certificates acknowledging their contribution.

Explaining his motivation for organ donation, T.S. Singhdeo emphasized that organ donation is a crucial responsibility towards society. He highlighted the reluctance in Indian society towards organ donation, often due to funeral traditions and other cultural practices. Singhdeo underscored the importance of organ donation, stating, “If, after death, body parts can be made available to a needy person, it is a noble deed.”

Reflecting on his tenure as Health Minister, Singhdeo noted the absence of essential institutions related to organ donation, such as ROTA (Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization) and SOTA (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization), in Chhattisgarh. This lack of infrastructure posed significant challenges for patients in need of organs like the liver and kidneys. However, during his tenure, Singhdeo played a pivotal role in activating these institutions and establishing a Tissue Bank in Chhattisgarh.

Organ donation typically occurs when a person is declared brain dead and certified by a medical board. In such cases, organs including the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, intestines, and pancreas can be surgically obtained by a specialized team. Additionally, tissues such as bones, corneas, heart vessels, and blood vessels can also be harvested. However, in cases of normal death, only the cornea and certain eye tissues can be donated within six hours of death. The impact of organ donation is profound, as the cornea tissue from one eye can restore vision to two individuals.

Aryan Sinha, who facilitated the organ donation pledges has been a key figure in promoting organ and blood donation. Over the past three years, he has secured organ donation pledges from 5,000 individuals. As a lifelong member of the Red Cross Society, Sinha has become the youngest person in India to lead such initiatives. His efforts have resulted in 10 successful organ donations from pledges he received. Recently, he represented Chhattisgarh at a national conclave on organ donation held in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The act of organ donation by T.S. Singhdev and his nephew are expected to inspire many others to follow suit, addressing the urgent need for organs and saving countless lives.