Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, has made a historic decision to encourage organ donation. Under this decision, the final rites of organ donors will now be conducted with state honors. According to sources, the Odisha government initiated the Sun Award Scheme in 2020 to promote organ donation.
The aim of encouraging organ donation is to honor the sacrifice and courage of individuals who donate organs to save the lives of others. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that the final rites of organ donors would be conducted with state honors as recognition of their bravery.
The Chief Minister emphasized that organ donation is a significant contribution. By approving organ donation decisions made by family members of brain-dead individuals, they play a crucial role in saving lives. To streamline the organ donation process, the state government established the Odisha Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) in 2019.
Noteworthy is the announcement of an award named after Suraj in the Ganjam district’s Bhanjanagar area. Family members of Suraj, who sustained serious injuries in a road accident, decided to donate his vital organs. Their decision saved the lives of six individuals.
Families of organ donors are also provided financial assistance of ₹500,000 from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Additionally, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik honors organ donors’ families annually on World Organ Donation Day, celebrated on August 13th.
Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for announcing recognition for organ donors, the Organ Donation Committee stated that this would inspire awareness campaigns for organ donation. This recognition is a great honor for organ donors nationwide.
In Odisha, the demand for organ donation is met with the participation of millions of volunteers in the organ donation movement. Dr. Prabhas Acharya, Chairman of the Organ Donation Committee, has urged that individuals who donate organs should have the option of providing their bodies to medical colleges with dignity and respect, facilitated by free transportation provided by the committee.
