ROTARIAN LAL GOEL COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL CHENNAI & KALPAKKAM TOUR TO ADVANCE ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS
by Prashant Kapadia/NHN
Chennai/Kalpakkam, February 24, 2025. Rotarian Lal Goel, Founder and Charter President of the Rotary Club of Organ Donation International and Chairman of Organ Donation India Foundation & GYAN, has successfully concluded a three-day awareness tour across Chennai and Kalpakkam, engaging with healthcare professionals, students, and security forces to promote organ donation initiatives.
During a strategic brainstorming session with Dr Hemal Kanvinde of MOHAN Foundation on February 20, Rtn Goel emphasized that “establishing at least one Organ Retrieval Centre in every Revenue District of India is essential to reduce mortality rates caused by organ shortages.” The session, which included participation from Rtn Hemlatha Bhandari and Dr. Vijaysingh Jagannathsingh Pardeshi, explored collaborative approaches to expanding India’s organ donation infrastructure. Rtn Goel expressed gratitude to Prof. Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee of MOHAN Foundation, for organizing this productive exchange.
On February 21, Rtn Goel delivered a compelling keynote address at Annai Violet Arts and Science College in Chennai, challenging students to become advocates for organ donation. “Every year, more than 500,000 people in India die due to the shortage of organs,” he stated. “This devastating statistic can be transformed if more citizens make the compassionate decision to become organ donors.” Dr. C Initha Lebanon Ebency, Principal of the college, welcomed Rtn Goel with a commemorative memento and committed to involving students—already leaders in blood donation—in organ donation awareness campaigns.
Later that day, Rtn Goel travelled to Kalpakkam to address Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officers at the DAE & BHAVINI Nuclear Power Plant. The program, aimed at encouraging personnel to register as organ donors, was attended by Senior Commandant Mr Akhilesh Kumar Shukla of CISF Unit DAE, who presented Rtn Goel with the CISF Shield. Deputy Commandant Mr Aditya Bhardwaj of CISF Unit BHAVINI expressed appreciation for Rtn Goel’s willingness to address “the most elite paramilitary force of India” on short notice.
Throughout the tour, Rtn Goel was accompanied by Rtn Hemlatha Bhandari and Rtn Jesudoss Harry Martin, who facilitated interactions with diverse audiences. The multi-venue awareness campaign reflects the growing interest in organ donation across different segments of Indian society and demonstrates the potential for collaborative efforts to increase donation rates nationwide.