Union Bank Officers Pledge to Donate Organs in Surat

Surat : For the first time in India, more than 111 officers and employees from the Union Bank of India’s regional office in Surat, led by Area President Shweta Save, pledged to donate their organs through the Surat-based NGO Donate Life. This remarkable initiative took place during Vigilance Awareness Week 2024, marking a historic step in promoting organ donation across the banking sector.

Nilesh Mandlewala, the founder of Donate Life, was invited as a guest speaker at the event. He educated the audience on critical aspects of organ donation, including what it means to be brain dead, who is eligible to donate, and why organ donation is urgently needed. He explained that thousands of lives are lost each year in India due to the unavailability of organs at crucial moments. “The organs of your loved ones are not needed in heaven but are desperately needed by those here on Earth,” Mandlewala emphasized, underscoring the life-saving potential of organ donation.

During his address, Mandlewala also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India by 2047, coinciding with the country’s centenary year of independence. He expressed hope that, by then, no person would lose their life in India due to a shortage of organs, and he invited Union Bank employees to support this vision by pledging to donate.

Taking the first step, Shweta Save, President of the Union Bank of India Regional Office in Surat, set a noble example by signing the organ donation pledge. Inspired by her leadership, over 111 bank officers and employees followed suit, marking this year’s Vigilance Awareness Week with an unprecedented commitment to saving lives. This pledge was particularly meaningful, as it coincided with the 106th foundation day of Union Bank of India, a milestone that underscored the institution’s dedication to social causes beyond financial services.

Each individual who pledged was awarded an official Organ Donation Pledge Certificate from the Ministry of Health, Government of India. Save extended her gratitude to Donate Life, commending the organization’s relentless efforts in advocating for organ donation in Surat and beyond. She congratulated all participating employees, acknowledging the importance of this life-saving decision.

Donate Life has been instrumental in promoting organ donation in South Gujarat. To date, the organization has facilitated the donation of 1,264 organs and tissues, granting new life to over 1,162 recipients in India and abroad. The NGO’s mission is to raise awareness and make organ donation a widespread practice, a goal that is vital to meeting the country’s medical needs.

With a single organ donor capable of saving up to eight or nine lives, the collective pledge from Union Bank’s Surat team symbolizes hope and commitment. Those interested in organ donation are encouraged to contact Donate Life at 908181R047 to learn more about becoming a donor.