Ranchi: The Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank along with the Eye Donation Awareness Club (EYEDAC) on Saturday organised its annual Run for Vision in the 37th National Eye Donation Fortnight.
The Chief Guest on the occasion was Speaker of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly Rabindra Nath Mahto while the Guest of Honor was Jharkhand Education Minister Jaggarnath Mahto. While addressing the students of different colleges present on the occasion, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto said that Shashtras teach that Eye donation is a mahadan (biggest donation).
Eye donation may even provide a second opportunity for life to someone, as all are well aware of the importance of vision. He said believe not more than 30 per cent of people have understood the importance of eye donation. After death, if organs are well preserved, they can be provided to someone else, he added.
Furthermore, mentioning the education minister as an example the speaker reminded all present that the minister had undergone a lung transplant, and was alive only because someone donated an organ. He also appreciated the efforts of Dr Bharti Kashyap and Dr B P Kashyap and wished them luck for their future efforts to spread awareness.
Dr Bibhuti Kashyap and Dr Nidhi Gadkar also spoke on the occasion. Minister Jaggarnath Mahto said that eyes and vision are very important for life and everyone understands the importance of eye donation. He said that he was alive because someone donated their organs. I urge all of you to donate your organs as nothing can be as big as giving another life to someone, he said.
Later, both Speaker Rabindra Nath and Minister Mahto signed slips and pledged to donate their eyes after their deaths. Veteran journalist Anuj Sinha, president of EYEDAC said that the event has been organised after two years.
The event aims to promote eye donation after death to provide someone with the ability to see he said adding that the reason behind bringing the children here is to inspire them to convince family members to donate eyes. Fifteen (15) families who had displayed exemplary courage by overcoming grief and donating the eyes of their deceased near ones, were felicitated by the Speaker on the occasion.
As part of the event, the Dr Bharti Kashyap Foundation organised a race among the several students of different colleges present. Later the winners of the race including Sohani Kumari, Manisha Kumari, Ankita Minj, Om Singh, and Shreyansh among several others were awarded.
Along with this, winners of a painting competition organised earlier were also awarded on the occasion. Several members of EYEDAC along with students of Gossner College, St Xavier College, and Ursuline Convent among other educational institutions were also present on the occasion.