Bride, groom skip reception; arrange blood donation camp instead

Kolkata: In a unique gesture, the banerjee family of Chanditala in North 24-Parganas celebrated the reception of their newly married son by organising a blood

donated camp.

Forty five people donated blood. Locals along with people's representatives were present and witnessed the function. The doctors and para medical staff of College of Medicine and Sagar Dutta Hospital who had come to collect blood expressed satisfaction and said the event will inspire locals to organise similar programmes in their families.

Ganesh Banerjee, father of Anjan said he had requested the parents of Rupa, his daughter-in-law that he was not going to take any dowry and instead they should arrange around 20 youths who would donate blood at the reception of Anjan-Rupa. Banerjee has been associated with social service for many years and during Anjan's sacred thread ceremony he had also organised a blood donation camp. "I do not know whether the event will encourage any one. But I thought it was my duty to create awareness among locals regarding blood donation," Banerjee said.

On the day of the reception, a blood donation camp was organised where Rupa's parents along with 17 people from Rupa's family and relatives donated blood.

The camp started at 10 am and continued till 2 pm. Around 28 people who are relatives of Anjan donated blood taking the total number of donors to 45. There were no celebration. A lunch was thrown for the donors. Anjan and Rupa sat in one corner of the pandal dressed in bright clothes, the usual practice in any reception. D Ashis, secretary of Medical Bank who is associated with blood donation movement for over three decades said such initiatives are required to strengthen the blood donation movement

in Bengal.

There are 70 state-run blood banks along with 35 private blood banks and 16 Central blood banks.

The annual requirement of blood in Bengal is 15 lakh units per year while the collection is around 11 lakh units. From Durga Puja to Jagatdhatri puja, only a few blood donation camps could be held due to the festival and as a result, those who need blood on a regular basis, found it difficult to

get blood.