Blood donation organisers cry foul over viral video

1. Mahesh Sharma
   Mandi Ahmedgarh, Feb 6

The administration has taken a serious note of a video, which claimed that the government has been paying huge amount of money to volunteers who organise blood donation camps.

The Lifeline Welfare Society, Meemsa; Lok Sewa Sahara Club (Cheema); Guru Ravidass Welfare Club (Manna); and Parivartan Malwa Friends Welfare Club, Dhuri; among others, have urged the authorities to take a legal action against the miscreants.

The activist claimed in the video that blood camp organisers receive Rs 1,000 for each unit of blood collected during camps.

Blood donors led by Dr Ravinder Sharma and Dr Sunit Hind, presidents of the Rotary Club, Ahmedgarh, and Social Welfare Organisation, regretted that some mischievous persons allegedly tried to settle a score by uploading the video.

Calling himself a second generation social worker, the activist stated that bank accounts of such outfits should be verified.

“When we asked the person behind the video about the issue, he failed to provide any proof as claimed by him,” said Tarsem Garg, convener of a blood donation camp.

Close scrutiny of records revealed that the Punjab State Blood Transfusion Council makes payment to the designated blood banks for the purpose of refreshment for donors.

“This is to inform you that a fund has been e-transferred to your blood bank’s account as a grant for refreshment for blood donors (both at blood bank as well as at voluntary blood donation camps) at the rate of Rs 50 per donor,” read a communication received at the Government Blood Bank.

Dr Jyoti Kapoor, In-charge, Blood Bank, Malerkotla Civil Hospital, claimed that no remuneration has been paid to organisers of voluntary blood donation camps. “Neither we receive any payment from the government for the NGOs to organise blood camps nor do we pay them,” said Dr Jyoti.