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baseless. Recently, a meeting It is extremely disappointing
was conducted in Bengaluru, to see so many young people
which was attended by religious with damaged hearts. It is not
and spiritual gurus of all the just them who suffer, but also
religions. It is worth noting that their families. In my 25 years of
all these gurus, unanimously, experience, from the first heart
endorsed organ donation. They transplant surgery to today,
emphasised on the fact that I have seen people get back
no religion prohibits donating to enjoying their lives after
organs. receiving an organ. However,
Recent policy changes due to a shortage of organs,
have been helpful in increasing not everyone gets this second
organ donation. In the past, it chance. On one hand, people
was relatively easy for foreigners are waiting for organs, and on
to receive organ transplants in the other, we see thousands of
India. However, now the organs bodies being burned or buried,
must be used for Indian citizens whose organs could have saved
first. This is a very positive step many lives. The only way to fill
taken by the Government. this gap is to spread awareness
The Government has through constant discussions on
also created an organised the ground, in digital media, and
structure where a person can mass media. The involvement
list themselves as an organ of religious leaders is equally
recipient. Organs are allocated important.
by a Government body, in a very It is up to us to take
transparent process, purely on responsibility for spreading
the basis of the seniority of the awareness and motivating
list. Everyone knows who is next people to come forward. Today,
in line; nobody can take undue many young influencers are
advantage of it. using their reach to talk about
The Prime Minister of India, organ donation. This has
who has mastered the art of increased awareness.
reaching out to the masses, has Organ donation is the
often used his 'Mann ki Baat' ultimate gift that one can give
program to touch the lives of before leaving this world. We
millions of people by talking must continue to work together
about complex issues in layman’s to spread awareness and
language. Recently, he shared encourage more people to
the story of a young daughter donate organs. The ball is in our
from Amritsar, where her parents court now, it is up to us to bridge
donated her organs on her the gap between the need and
death. He made a very emotional the number of donations we
appeal for organ donation, receive. Let us work together to
which is going to make a huge save lives and give people a
difference in the landscape. second chance at life.

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