Jammu Jun 27: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Jammu and Kashmir, an Interfaith Organ Donation Awareness Meet brought together representatives of diverse religious communities, healthcare professionals, social organisations, NGOs and public representatives to spread awareness about organ donation and encourage people to embrace the life-saving cause beyond religious and cultural differences.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Sarv Dharam Awareness Meet on Organ Donation was organised by the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) J&K in collaboration with the S.S. Jain Sabha Jammu (Regd.) under the supervision of Dr Elias Sharma, Nodal Officer, SOTTO J&K and Head of the Department of Urology, Super Speciality Hospital, Government Medical College Jammu. The programme was held at Namah, Shree Vimal Muni Bhawan, Bahu Plaza, Gandhi Nagar.
The event marked a significant milestone in the Union Territory by creating a common platform where representatives of different faiths collectively advocated organ donation as an act of compassion, humanity and selfless service. It highlighted the shared belief across religions that saving a human life is among the noblest forms of service.
Adding a cultural touch to the programme, women members of Shraman Sanskriti Manch presented a soulful song dedicated to organ donation, reinforcing the message of hope and the gift of life.
The programme saw enthusiastic participation from members of the Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Kashmiri Pandit, Aggarwal and Jain communities, along with representatives of the Brahma Kumaris, various NGOs, healthcare professionals, community leaders and social organisations, reflecting a united commitment towards promoting organ donation.
Among the dignitaries present were MLA Jammu West Arvind Gupta, MLA Bahu Vikram Randhawa and MLA Jammu East Yudhvir Sethi, who appreciated the efforts of SOTTO J&K and the S.S. Jain Sabha for organising the awareness programme. They commended the initiative for strengthening social harmony while encouraging citizens to come forward for the noble cause of organ donation.
A major highlight of the event was a detailed presentation by Dr. Poonam Mahajan, Joint Director, SOTTO J&K, on “Organ Donation Through the Lens of Different Religions.” She explained that major religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, and Jainism, promote values such as compassion, charity, selfless service and saving lives. Referring to teachings from various religious scriptures, she emphasised that organ donation is widely regarded as a humanitarian act that transcends religious boundaries.
Representatives from different faiths unanimously endorsed the message that organ donation is a noble act reflecting universal values of kindness, generosity and service to humanity. They urged people to overcome misconceptions and actively support organ donation to help save countless lives.
Members of NGOs, civil society organisations and community groups also pledged to intensify awareness campaigns and motivate people to register as organ donors, making the event a powerful demonstration of unity across faiths for a common humanitarian objective.
Speaking on the occasion, Suneel Jain, President of S.S. Jain Sabha Jammu, and Pavinder Jain, General Secretary, reiterated the Sabha’s commitment to organising more awareness programmes and community outreach initiatives to promote organ donation and transplantation across Jammu and Kashmir.
The programme concluded with a collective pledge by participants to dispel myths surrounding organ donation, encourage greater public participation and inspire more individuals to register as organ donors. The gathering conveyed a strong message that while faiths may differ, the shared commitment to saving lives and serving humanity unites all communities. (KNO)
