The heritage building of Raja Annamalai Mandram built in 1952 was the venue for a unique program where disabled showed their talent to promote organ and tissue donation. The program was organised by student group – Agarthulir Foundation in aid of the ‘Comaganin Raaga Priya Troupe’ by visually challenged artists.
MOHAN Foundation was invited to speak about the concepts of Organ Donation. The other guests were Mr. Cheran, Director & Producer, Mr. M. Boominathan of Kingmakers IAS Academy who successfully guided a visually handicapped girl through IFS exams, Ms Sunganya, author and Dr. Rajasekhar Perumala Liver Transplant Surgeon SIMS Hospital.
The guests were felicitated and the first talk was delivered by Dr. Rajasekhar Perumala on the Concepts of Organ Donation. He explained who and how donation occurs. He spoke about brain death and the need for organs. Mr. Bhoominathan read out the message of his student and offered his services to disabled students who wish to prepare for civil services entrance exams. Mr. Cheran congratulated the volunteers of Agarthulir Foundation for channelizing their energy to a good cause and wanted others to emulate their positive activity. The 750 strong crowd was very receptive to all the speakers.
After this the Orchestra played popular songs and there were dance and mimicry by other performers. The atmosphere was electric with claps and leg thumping and sing along with the beats. Both the audience and performers had a good time.
MOHAN Foundation had set stalls, placed posters and distributed information brochures. More than 500 students and their family members pledged their organs and picked a donor card.
The next day the toll free helpline received a call to clarify about organ donation and congratulating the organizers for the program.