This Ganesh Utsav, save a life!

The Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC) dedicated to facilitating organ transplants in Mumbai is celebrating Ganesh Utsav with major city hospitals and NGO’s such as the Narmada Kidney Foundation and National Liver Foundation, by organizing a public campaign for creating awareness about organ donation.

Ganesh chaturthi was promoted by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who brought to the cause of independence a sense of public unity. One of Lokmanya Tilak's strongest movements to evoke nationalism was the organization of festivals like Ganesh chaturthi in Maharasthra, which not only inspired feelings of unity, but gave freedom fighters an opportunity to meet when the British government illegalized any gatherings, writings and slogans that could incite violence.

Today, an independent India such national festivals and masses gatherings can be utilized for spreading messages of a different nature. There is an urgent need to spread awareness on a number of social issues that continue to afflict our nation.

Organ donation and transplantation is one such noble cause. 12 years after the Human Organ Transplantation Act has been passed, the cadaver programme in India is still in its infancy stage and there is potentially a huge pool of brain-dead patients who could meet the demands of the country for various organs.

According to Dr Vatsala Trivedi, Secretary, ZTCC, “ZTCC and the management of hospitals that are registered transplant units like the Hiranandani Hospital, Wockhardt Hospital, Jaslok Hospital, Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas Hospital, Raheja hospital and Lilavati have come together during this pious season of Ganapati festival in order to support the organ donation cause. A stall at the Lalbaug-cha-Raja provides us with a perfect opportunity to reach out to lakhs of devotees. We will be disseminating leaflets on organ donation as well as organ donation forms. Medical experts and social workers will also be present to clarify any doubts that the audience may have.”

The banners with slogans saying ‘pledge your organs, save a life’ have been put up on the walls that face the road so as to attract the attention of Ganesh devotees who pass through this path while going for the holy immersion of Ganesh Idols.

Venue: Lalbaug-Cha-Raja
Time: 9 am onwards