Alappuzha:
In a village in Kerala, every family has pledged to donate their organs.
300 families of the village Veliyambar of Alappuzha district have signed up as organ donors, thanks to the efforts of a group of young men who lost a friend to kidney failure last year.
The Pranamam Arts and Sports Club formed in 2012, found its true purpose after the death of the young man due to the lack of a donor, and started collecting pledges. The consent letters of the villagers are being handed over to the Kidney Federation of India.
Chandrababu, a fisherman in his 40s, was among the first to pledge his organs.
"We have nothing to fear. My mother, wife and I signed the forms a year and a half ago," he said.
His neighbour, Mini Mohan, a mother of two, also signed on recently. Deftly making ropes out of coconut fibre, she said, "After I die, someone else can live"
The sports club members have been have been going door to door, trying to persuade people to donate their organs, having realized the importance of organ donation the hard way.
"Sometimes it's a challenge due to the superstitious beliefs of people. Many wonder what would happen after death to them if they donate organs. But we've been able to overcome these difficulties by regular interaction and awareness camps," says K Babu, patron of the club.