Jitender Dhiman organises fifth annual blood donation camp in memory of his mother; 50 donors register for stem cell donation

YAMUNANAGAR/POD DESK

A strong message of humanity and social responsibility was witnessed at Sanatan Dharam Temple, Model Town, where a voluntary blood donation camp and stem cell donor registration drive were organised under the Mission Rakt Kranti Hindustan campaign (Ghar-Ghar Raktdata) for children suffering from thalassaemia.

The camp was organised by Jitender Dhiman, proprietor of Shakti Engineering Works, on the birth anniversary of his late mother, Shakuntala Dhiman. As many as 267 voluntary blood donors donated blood during the camp, while 50 people registered themselves as potential stem cell donors for thalassaemia patients.

The camp marked the fifth consecutive blood donation drive organised by Dhiman in memory of his mother. The initiative, which began in 2022, has continued to grow over the years and has now crossed the milestone of collecting 1,090 units of blood through five camps. According to the organisers, the collected blood has the potential to help around 3,270 patients, considering that one unit can be separated into components that may benefit multiple recipients.

The blood donation camp was inaugurated by Yamunanagar MLA Ghanshyam Dass Arora, who appreciated the organisers as well as the donors for coming forward for a cause directly connected with saving lives.

Addressing the gathering, Arora said blood donation was truly a courageous and noble act and was rightly described as a form of life donation. He said blood is an essential component of human life and its availability becomes particularly critical during emergencies, accidents, disasters and other situations where patients require immediate transfusion.

He said voluntary blood donation was an outstanding example of humanity because donated blood could provide crucial support to a person in need without any discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, community or economic status. He also appreciated the contribution of young people, saying that youth had consistently played an important role in voluntary blood donation campaigns.

The MLA highlighted the particular importance of blood donation for children suffering from thalassaemia. He said patients suffering from the disorder often require regular blood transfusions because their bodies are unable to maintain adequate healthy blood levels. For such patients, timely availability of blood can become a matter of life and death.

He said there was no simple substitute for donated blood in such situations and therefore maintaining adequate stocks in blood banks was essential. Regular voluntary blood donation camps organised by social organisations, institutions and individuals can play an important role in ensuring that blood remains available for patients when required.

The emotional centrepiece of the camp was the slogan “Ek Unit Rakt Maa Ke Naam”, coined by Jitender Dhiman in memory of his mother. The message generated considerable enthusiasm among donors, many of whom came forward to contribute blood as a tribute to their own mothers and as an expression of solidarity with children battling thalassaemia.

Dhiman explained the personal reason behind his continued commitment to blood donation. He said his mother, Shakuntala Dhiman, had suffered from cancer, and during her treatment the family had to make repeated efforts to arrange blood in cities including Chandigarh, Panchkula and Delhi.

The experience, he said, left a deep impression on him. After his mother’s death, he resolved that people in Yamunanagar should not have to face the same difficulties in arranging blood for their loved ones.

With this objective, he began organising a blood donation camp every year on his mother’s birth anniversary. What started as a personal tribute has gradually developed into a larger social initiative, bringing together hundreds of voluntary donors and creating awareness about the importance of regular blood donation.

The figures from the five annual camps reflect the steady response to the initiative. The organisers collected 178 units in 2022, 182 units in 2023, 248 units in 2024 and 215 units in 2025. With 267 units collected in the latest camp, the cumulative collection has reached 1,090 units.

Dhiman also thanked all the donors, volunteers, organisations and individuals who helped make the fifth camp successful. He presented a memento to MLA Ghanshyam Dass Arora as a mark of appreciation.

The chief guest also encouraged the donors by presenting them with badges and certificates of appreciation. The gesture was aimed at recognising the voluntary contribution of people who chose to spend part of their day helping save the lives of others.

Senior guests also attended the programme and encouraged the donors. Among them were Nischal Chaudhary, district president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, and social worker and Plywood Association president Devender Chawla. They interacted with donors, encouraged them and presented badges as a mark of appreciation.

The organisers said the camp was not limited to blood collection but also focused on creating awareness about stem cell donation, particularly in relation to thalassaemia patients. The registration of 50 potential stem cell donors was described as another significant achievement of the initiative.

The successful organisation of the camp involved the collective efforts of Dhiman’s wife Shivani, his sister Pooja, Kiran from the District Red Cross Society, Smile Foundation and Rahul Fitness. Their contribution helped coordinate the blood donation, donor registration and other arrangements at the venue.

Smile Foundation president Sanjeev Mehta was also present along with Sachin Joshi, Prabhjot Singh, Sachin Namdev Sarasawa, Varun Malhotra, Amit Jindal, councillor Priyank Sharma, Rajkumar Kathuria, Gaurav, Ashish, Tarun, Nipun and Kapil.

The event concluded with appreciation for all blood donors and volunteers. The organisers said the initiative would continue in the coming years with the aim of encouraging more people to become regular voluntary blood donors and expanding awareness about stem cell donation.

The campaign once again underlined the importance of voluntary blood donation, particularly for patients who require repeated transfusions. For Dhiman, however, the initiative carries a deeply personal meaning—turning the memory of his mother into an annual campaign that seeks to ensure that no family in the region has to struggle for blood when a loved one’s life depends on it.

PDO/DESK