New Delhi: Every year, about 5 lakh people die awaiting organ transplants due to non-availability of organs and there are only 0.01 per cent of Indians who pledge to donate organs. That makes the initiative taken by Shivani, a resident of Sonipat, so special. Shivani, who suffers from physical disability had seen her friend die due to an organ failure, waiting for a donor. This made Shivani stand up for the cause of Organ Donation. She got married to Ashwini on Tuesday, who is a resident of Delhi, on a condition that he promises to extend his support for the cause of organ donation.
Also Read: Why India Should Step Up And Donate Organs For Patients Waiting In The Dark
Going a step forward, the couple took an extra phera, over and above the traditional seven pheras – where each phera represents a wedding vow. The extra phera was to pledge their support for the cause. The duo also filled out the pledge forms from the stage that further motivated 82 guests to pledge their support for organ donation and body donation during the ceremony.
The bride says, “When I decided to marry Ashwini, first, I wanted him to promise me one thing that he will extend his support for my cause.”
Also Read: In Numbers: The Status Of Organ Donation In India
A cause that needs a lot of support in India as more than half a million Indians are estimated to be in dire need of an organ transplant. 200,000 people die of liver disease, while 50,000 people die from heart disease, 150,000 people await a kidney transplant but only 5,000 get one and 1,000,000 lakh people suffer from corneal blindness and await organ donors.
With such a huge discrepancy between demand and supply of organs, many more efforts like the one by this Sonepat couple, is the need of the hour.