On April 12, 2025, MOHAN Foundation, in collaboration with the Lions Club Rishikesh Devbhoomi, organized an organ donation awareness program at Bal Maitri Shishu Sansthan, located in Rishivan, Diuli, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. The event was held at the invitation of Mr. Rishi Kumar, Principal of the school.
The program included a poster-making competition and an awareness session on organ donation, aimed at educating students and staff about the importance and impact of organ and tissue donation.
Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at MOHAN Foundation and stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh, served as the resource person for the session, which was attended by the school’s staff.
He began by outlining the mission and objectives of MOHAN Foundation, followed by an explanation of the eye and skin donation processes. Mr. Arora emphasized the feasibility of such donations at home following a death and highlighted the pressing need—pointing out that while 500,000 people in India require corneal transplants annually, only 150,000 donations are made.
He also underscored the inclusive nature of organ donation, noting that anyone—regardless of race, religion, or age—can be a donor. He shared inspiring real-life stories, including that of India’s oldest organ donor, Sh. Tej Ram (aged 88), a 70-hour-old infant donor, and a 60-hour-old neonate whole-body donor.
Mr. Arora offered a comprehensive overview of the landscape of organ donation in India, covering the following topics:
• What organ donation is and why it matters
• Eligibility criteria for organ donors
• Organ donation during life and after death
• Brain death vs. coma
• Skin donation
• The Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act, 1994
• Whole-body donation
• Living kidney transplantation facilities at AIIMS Rishikesh
• Common myths and facts about organ donation
• Ways individuals can contribute to the cause
• MOHAN Foundation’s Anudaan initiative
He concluded the session by encouraging participants to initiate conversations about organ donation with their families, friends, and communities.
The poster-making competition took place on the school’s main lawn, with 30 enthusiastic students taking part. The top three entries were awarded cash prizes and certificates. The activity served as a creative medium for students to express the importance of organ donation.
The program ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Rishi Kumar, who expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the organizers, speaker, and attendees for their active participation and support.
The awareness initiative made a meaningful impact, educating approximately 45 participants about the significance of organ and tissue donation and inspiring them to support this noble cause.
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