Odisha confers ‘Suraj Award’ posthumously to 24 organ donors
Bhubaneswar, Aug 13 (UNI) “Enlivening others in the aftermath of one’s death through organ donation is a higher order of noble act”, said Mukesh Mahaling, State’s Minister Health & Family Welfare while speaking at the World Organ Donation Day function here today.
Paying his homage to the noble soul of the organ donors and their immediate family members, he further said, “because of their noble acts that Odisha has been honoured at national level as an emerging state in organ donation”.
“Your donations have not only saved lives of others but also have brought honour to Odisha”.
Welcoming the immediate family members of the organ donors, Secretary Health and Family Welfare Aswathy S. said, “Words fail to describe the humanitarian acts and courage of the organ donors and their family members”.
She added, one organ donor could save the lives of eight persons in critical stages of their lives. Even one organ donor through tissue donation could give life-relief to around 50 people”.
She expressed her gratitude to them on behalf of the people of Odisha. The entire event was jerked with emotional gratitude and reverence to family members of the organ donors.
To mark the occasion, the minister conferred the Suraj Award to 24 Organ donors which were posthumously received by their immediate family members.
The award carried Rs 5 lakh to each of the bereaved families.
Family members of Late Rashmi Prava Patel of Jharsuguda district, Late Sibun Siddharth Sahu of Nayagarh district, Late Bikash Kumar Sahu of Khordha district, Late Manoj Kumar Sahu of Kendrapara, Late Alekh Prasad Parida of Balasore, Late Prahallad Raut of Cuttack, Late Lata Mahant of Keonjhar, Late Janmes Lenka of Sundargarh, Late Pradeep Kumar Jena of Khordha, Late Swashriayan Patra of Mayurbhanj, Late Biswajit Das of Angul, Late Jayanta Kumar Khamari of Khordha, Late Ajay Kumar Giri of Kendrapara, Late Asish Chhalsing of Koraput, Late Chandrasekhar Nayak of Rayagada, Late Narasingha Prasad Maharana of Gajapati, Late Pandae Sabar of Gajapati, Late Sarat Chandra Biswal of Kendrapara, Late Pilant Sabar of Rayagada, Late K. Naresh Pattnayak of Gajapati, Late Arun Bhuyan of Gajapati, Late Soumya Ranjan Behera of Khordha, Late Shiba Prasad Jena of Bhadrak, and Late Rina Prusty of Khordha district were honoured with the Suraj Award.
It is pertinent to note here that the parents of late Suraj Behera had promoted voluntary organ donation in Odisha by donating vital organs of their deceased son.
Commemorating their inspiring humanitarian act, the Suraj Award is being presented to organ donors and organisations promoting organ donation in Odisha every year on August 13 on the occasion of World Organ Donation Day since 2020.
In recognition of the selfless and courageous contribution of the deceased and their families, the last rites of the donors are also performed with state honour.
