Lets Give Life A Better Chance Volume 2 Issue 10 October 2012 16 Pages Re 1

Can we make Dedicated portal Read the views of blood donations for Bombay Blood the great leader much safer by Group launched on L a l B a h a d u r preventing the 2 n d O c t o b e r Shastri on some usual vasovagal 2012.Information, topics of national reaction? Read e d u c a t i o n a n d interest on Pages more on Page 7 networking.Page 5 12 -13 Blood Revolution Calling @ Gulbarga! For many reasons, the district of Gulbarga has a claimed that from February to June they could not get very poor performance when it comes to voluntary any voluntary blood donation drives. They had close to 30 units in the beginning of the summer and managed blood donation. On a deep down analysis made by with that for 4 months (by asking patient families for Sankalp’s Rakta Kranti it was realized that not replacement). On further investigation, people in the only are awareness levels lower than any other part blood banking community claimed that this was true of the state, but also the very attitude of people who every year during summer. They say that extreme temperatures there and the lack of motivation has can make a difference is slowly but surely sounding dented the spirit of voluntary blood donation. the death knell for voluntary blood donation here. !Government based medical institutions are closed There was a need to strike the right chords here. An beyond 4PM and are not open on Sundays and other attempt was made. As a consequence, Sankalp government and public holidays. Consequently they decided to hold the next of its workshop under “Role are available for blood donation drives in a very limited time frame. Of Colleges In Taking Karnataka Towards 100% !A small registration drive to register donors for VBD” @ Gulbarga. emergency was conducted at a major engineering college in the district. Only 10 donors registered. Many BLOOD DONATION SITUATION IN GULBARGA of them were skeptical that their parents and guardians would be disappointed and angry if the were to donate After Sankalp’s initial visit to Gulbarga it was clear that blood! the concept of voluntary blood donation is close to non existent in the district. Some very disturbing a s p e c t s c a m e f o r t h a f t e r interacting with blood bankers, h o s p i t a l s , patients, college students etc. Here is a gist of what is really happening there.

!A major hospital based blood bank in the district Jai Jawan Jai Kisan - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 2 October 2012 EMERGENCY BLOOD DONATIONS IN THE GULBARGA DISTRICT Sankalp Foundation decided that an attempt has Data gathered from the Karnataka blood helpline, ( to be made to tackle the situation. On 8th September 9480044444) for Gulbarga indicates that in January 2012, Sankalp India Foundation in association with 2012, the district had about 100 units of blood (units NSS Cell, Gulbarga University held a workshop on the available off the shelf) on a daily average. This dropped Role Of Colleges in Taking Karnataka towards 100% to about 50 in February and never really crossed 60 Voluntary Blood Donation and in particular addressing from then till July 2012. Thus replacement was the the pressing needs for more blood donation drives in norm and the misery of the patients during that period Gulbarga.. was painful to hear. A set of 50 colleges from Gulbarga and neighboring Even for an organization like Sankalp, that is working in Yadgir district were identified to be a part of the the field of blood banking for close to 10 years, workshop. A letters signed jointly by Sankalp and NSS emergency situations in Gulbarga have been a Cell Gulbarga was dispatched to these colleges. All nightmare. Although Sankalp never wants to see a colleges were personally again invited via phone calls, case where a unit of blood needs to be replaced (rather mailers etc with a request to send in 1 teacher the wish is to see plenty of blood donation drives representative and 4 students from each college. making blood units available off the shelf always), there are situations when helplessness sets in and a The workshop began at 9 AM with registrations. Each replacement donor needs to be found. During such times, healthy relatives of patients too are skeptical about donating blood. They just become ignorant to repeated requests to donate blood and rather go on to put volunteers under pressure to get a blood unit. Somehow the concept of blood donation in general is too new and elusive to many people in Gulbarga.

Sometimes even a single negative unit cannot be found anywhere in the entire district. In April 2012, in a case where Sankalp was involved, a negative unit (Ab - ve) was required. After exploring and exhausting all options in Gulbarga it was decided to get blood from Raichur (that is about 4 hours by bus). Unfortunately, by then the life was lost.

But then we also need to realize that there are people there who can make a difference as well. Take for instance the case of a man who has the unique participant was issued a well designed kit. Each kit had Bombay Blood Group. There was a patient in manuals, brochures, pamphlets, posters, a copy of Bangalore who required Bombay group blood. After Sankalp Patrika, each of which had an abundance of explaining the urgency of the situation, he was willing information related to blood donation processes, the to donate immediately and even help in transporting it need for blood, eligibility criteria etc. More than 120 from Gulbarga to Bangalore. This simply goes to show students and about 20 faculty members came in to that there is hope! attend the day long program.

Sankalp India Foundation is working to tap this hope to After the national song, Vande Mataram was sung by improve things in Gulbarga. There is a need for a participants, Dr E T Muttiah, the Vice Chancellor of the revolutionary change. With the district having a university inaugurated the program and stressed on university of it’s own (Gulbarga University )which has the need for awareness of the requirement of blood in about 100 colleges in Gulbarga and Yadgir , with more the mind of every student and public in general. Other than 5 major engineering, medical colleges availability dignitaries from the Syndicate of the university also of potential donors is not a problem. Education and gave their vocal support to such a program and encouragement is lacking in these youngsters and the thanked everyone involved in trying to enlighten willingness to take the first step is lacking from students. concerned authorities of these institutions. Lalith Parmar, President, Sankalp India Foundation WORKSHOP ON THE ROLE OF COLLEGES IN then laid out Sankalp’s plan of action for blood donation drives in Gulbarga. Digging deep into the details of the Loyalty to the country comes ahead of all other loyalties. And this is an absolute loyalty, since one cannot weight it in terms of what one receives. - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 3 October 2012 become a part of the annual curriculum and event plan of the colleges. Sankalp sent out an appeal to the college faculty representatives to not look at such drives as a burden on their academic schedule, but rather consider it to be their responsibility as definite steps and decisions from them can play a major role in addressing blood shortage in Gulbarga.

Dr Prasanna, Blood Bank Medical Officer of District Hospital, Raichur also came in to represent the blood banking community. He not only explained how important blood donation drives are in Gulbarga Raichur region(since these are major medial destinations to a host of villages and towns), but also went on to tell the students how shortage of blood units can be disastrous to the lives of thousands of people. He willingly Rakta Kranti program that is getting in lot more answered the plenty of questions that were voluntary blood donation drives across the state, he put forward by the students and suggested them to made students aware as to how they can make a take the bold step of convincing their college significant contribution in their region. He gave authorities to organize frequent blood donation drives. examples of other districts where students are driving in a change in their colleges. Comparing these Finally, a certificate of appreciation was handed over to students with them, he expressed hope that 1 year every participant. This certificate shall serve as an later the situation will be much better in Gulbarga. additional motivational factor for the students to work for the cause of voluntary blood donation. Following this, a senior Sankalp volunteer gave an action plan for all colleges to plan and execute blood Only sustained efforts by colleges, Sankalp and blood donation drives. The plan consisted of the following banks can improve situations in Gulbarga. A Blood steps Revolution is calling there, and a spark to has been ignited to start the revolution. !Creating a Team Red in the college (that shall be sufficiently trained by Sankalp. All publicity and IEC materials to be given by Sankalp) !This TeamRed to visit every class in the college, motivate students !Register blood donors and create a database of donors that can be used for blood donation drives and emergency situations Conduct a blood donation drive (that shall again be completely supported by Sankalp’s presence)

Apart from these aspects, eligibility aspects for blood donation, the right processes for pre, post and during donation care were all explained in detail to the enthusiastic students.

Since some faculty members were also present in this program, emphasis was laid on the fact that 2 blood donation drives (one in every 6 months) need to

True democracy or the swaraj of the masses can never come through untruthful and violent means. - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 4 October 2012 Lets Ask The Doctor Q: Can I donate blood if I have TB in alcohol in the blood stream. past in age of 17. Now I am 31 with healthy body? At a rule of thumb, the person must not have had A: True a person with TB cannot alcoholic drinks of any kind in last 12 hours at donate blood. However, TB is not an least. Less then 12 hours is a sure deferral. If the incurable disease. If a person is treated for TB person had alcohol before 72 hours, then and the same is confirmed by tests the person whatever the nature of the spirit and whatever the can donate blood in India today. However, most quantity, the person is fit to donate. In the interim blood banks would like to have a gap of 1 year duration i.e. 12-72 hours post taking alcohol, if the during which the person is symptom free before Medical Officer who is examining is the person is collecting blood. convinced on visual inspection that the person is not under the influence of alcohol and is fit to Q. For how long after consuming alcohol can donate, the blood bank proceeds to take blood. someone not donate blood? A. The Drug controller and the NACO guidelines A big thanks to Dr Shivaram, Manipal say that the person must not be under the Hospitals, Bangalore for answering these influence of alcohol. This is ambiguous queries. requirement and therefore the interpretation Do you have a question related to blood donation or varies from blood bank to blood bank. The quantity blood transfusion? Here is your chance to get the and type of alcohol does matter because that answers from the experts, Your confidentiality shall decides the duration for which the person will be also be honored in case you do not want your name under the influence of alcohol. Influence of alcohol and other details to appear. You can send in your could also be interpreted as the presence of queries to [email protected].

An 18 year old enthusiastic young girl asked Dr Shivaram if she should bring her parents along the first time she volunteers to donate blood. This is what he had to say: “When you are 18 years of age, you can vote, get a driving license, get married and also donate blood without anybody’s permission :-) The rule of law should be respected so that the basic structure of our democracy is maintained and further strengthened. - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 5 October 2012 BombayBloodGroup.Org Launched An exclusive portal for people who have the because the needy families plead them to donate blood. The regular donors plan to keep the information Bombay Blood Group was launched on of their last donation updated on this platform and October 2nd 2012. This is the first of it’s kind divert all incoming blood requests to the platform. Gradually this should ensure that only the eligible platform which will bring together all the donors are approached for donation. individuals with this rare blood group and seek to address their concerns on blood The other issue is that of lack of information. Several donors shared experiences when they came across requirement. people who think having Bombay Blood Group is some kind of a disorder. There has been a lot of activity In the first ever Bombay Blood Group donors meet relating to Bombay Blood Group when it comes to which was organised on 1st July 2012, the community emergency needs. However, there is very little credible felt the need to set up a common platform for and well structured information available about this interaction, record keeping and information sharing. phenotype. The platform will bring together all pieces Careful deliberation with the regular donors helped of information that is of relevance to the community. draw the wireframe of the portal that was to come. Thanks to Jehova's witnesses, a lot of advancements The second meeting marked the inauguration of the have taken place in the field of bloodless surgeries. information portal - www.bombaybloodgroup.org. This The same advance techniques can be put to use in marks the beginning of a new era of education, case of patients with BBG to reduce the need for information and coordination for people with BBG. transfusion. Over last few years, several organisations have been promoting the use of: The site will be enrolling people Bombay Blood Group - pre-operative autologous donation from across the nation. - intra-operative red cells salvage

For the Donors - double red cells donation using apheresis technique A large number of individual groups maintaining - use of EPO databases of the Bombay Blood Group donors. But the and several other techniques. The site will serve the problem is that with each new request, all donors of this need to educate the Bombay Blood Group community group are called through one channel or the other. The about these options. donors undergo lot of emotional stress, specially

The economic issues are most vital for us and it is of the highest importance that we should fight our biggest enemies – Poverty, unemployment. - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 6 October 2012

For the Needy and the Blood Banks The patients in need of Bomaby Blood Group will be Sankalp’s Bombay Blood Group Alert network had able to post their requests on the platform either on shown significant results in utilizing the BBG blood website or by a call. The system allows for capturing of units which get collected from voluntary donors who are all Bombay Requests across India and track them. The unaware of their rare phenotype. Sometimes the efforts of the individuals and organisations (who help patients recover from medical emergencies without find BBG) will be streamlined and clear status of the needing as much blood as was anticipated and the need be highlighted for all to see. This will bring about units which got donated for them also find their place on greater synergy and effectiveness. The system will the shelves. The platform will take the BBG Alert achieve it’s goal when each needy patient gets the network to the next level ensuring that the blood banks blood units from the best suited donor in the fastest can immediately notify the nation if they have a unit of possible time. BBG on shelf.

The system will also bring together all possible The platform also has built-in forums for donors to strategies and options that are being employed on participate and discuss related stuff. The news section various levels to make blood available to the patient. of the platform ensures that any news related to Bombay Group posted in the world is made available to The Irony and the Solution the donors registered in the site. From July to September, in 3 months, Sankalp India Foundation got requests for 20 BBG units for 11 The aim is make this platform to be the one-stop different patients. In the same duration, while there was solution to connect and manage Bombay Group donors a nationwide search for donors, 2 units of BBG expired and requests. Hence we urge all members of the blood on shelves in various blood banks of the country. The banking community across India to actively make use problem comes from the fact that the blood banks do of this system. The portal link is not have a mechanism to let the community know that http://www.bombaybloodgroup.org they have a BBG unit on their shelves.

I want the freedom of my country so that other countries may learn something from my free country - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 7 October 2012 Vasovagal Reactions During Blood Donation Blood donors normally tolerate the donation reactions that occur this type is the one that is most common (Again believed to be in the range of 1-2% of very well, but occasionally adverse reactions total number of donors) of variable severity may occur during or at the end of the collection. In most cases, they are Usually the trigger is one of the following ! Pain of the venipuncture, vasovagal reactions than can be triggered by a !Looking at one’s own blood variety of causes. !Watching another donor unwell, !Anxiety and state of tension of undergoing the WHAT IS A VASOVAGAL REACTION? donation, A vasovagal episode is a malaise mediated by the !Waking up too early after donation, vagus nerve. When it leads to fainting, it is called a !Lack of proper sleep prior to donation, vasovagal syncope, which is the most common type of !Prolonged smoking before blood donation. fainting. It usually happens when the person is !Standing for too long immediately after the donation exposed to a specific trigger with a corresponding malfunction in the parts of the nervous system that IMMEDIATE TREATMENT regulate heart rate and blood pressure. !Immediate treatment measures for such donors are Make them lie down comfortably with their legs lifted in Prior to losing consciousness, the individual frequently a 45 degree angle. This helps in streamlining blood experiences symptoms such as lightheadedness, flow throughout the body, enabling the brain to get nausea, the feeling of being extremely hot enough blood. (accompanied by sweating), ringing in the ears , !Sufficient fresh air to breathe (any tight clothing uncomfortable feeling in the heart, fuzzy thoughts, a around the neck etc can be loosened). slight inability to speak/form words (sometimes !Replenishing blood sugar levels through juice or a combined with mild stuttering), weakness and visual small snack. disturbances such as lights seeming too bright, fuzzy Most importantly, a feeling that there is nothing wrong or tunnel vision, and sometimes a feeling of needs to be conveyed to the donor (Avoid crowding nervousness can occur as well. It causes the heart to around donor, ensure only a doctor and one friend or slow down and at the same time, affects the nerves to known person is speaking to the donor) the blood vessels in the legs permitting those vessels to dilate (widen). As a result the heart puts out less PREVENTIVE MEASURES blood, the blood pressure drops, and what blood is Most vasovagal reactions circulating tends to go into the legs rather than to the can be prevented by head. The brain is deprived of oxygen and the fainting ! episode occurs. These symptoms occur for at least a Ensuring proper pre few seconds before consciousness is lost (if it is lost), donation care (Form filling, which typically happens when the person is sitting up Hb test, discussion with or standing. doctor, proper sleep, restrictive tobacco and VASOVAGAL REACTION DURING BLOOD alcohol consumption, proper food etc.) DONATION ! In a study conducted at Ensuring a comfortable a Greek blood bank in room temperature and 2005, 12173 blood humidity donors were studied for !Engaging anxious donors in an active conversation adverse reactions. during their donation. O n e - h u n d r e d a n d !Avoiding a semi-sitting position during the donation. seven (0.87%) donors !Proper rest (10 -15 mins) immediately after donation h a d a v a s o v a g a l !Consumption of refreshment after donation reaction during or after blood donation. Donors who !Identifying the best venous access, by inspecting gave blood occasionally had a significant greater both forearms and carry out the venipuncture precisely incidence of reactions compared with volunteer donors and cleanly by avoiding traumatic needle insertion with (1.15 versus 0.53%). In voluntary blood donation invasive and painful maneuvers drives conducted by Sankalp, it is seen that of all

The preservation of freedom, is not the task of soldiers alone. The whole nation has to be strong. - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 8 October 2012 Success With Partially Matched BMT For Thal Patients

In what could be a transplant, all patients received high doses of the path break innovation chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide, which kills if proved successful, a remaining blood cells, including diseased sickled cells, preliminary clinical and preserves the donor’s stem cells responsible for trial conducted at, making new, healthy cells. J o h n s H o p k i n s Results: After a median follow-up of two years, the University has shown transplants successfully eliminated sickle cell disease that even partially- in 11 of 17 patients. Three were fully matched to their matched bone marrow donors and eight received half-matched donor marrow. t r a n s p l a n t s c a n All 11 patients are free of painful sickle cell crisis and 10 eliminate sickle cell no longer have anemia. There were no deaths and no disease in some unexpected toxicities. patients. This can eliminate the need for life long blood transfusions for Six of the 11 patients (all half-matched) have stopped many Thalassemia patients as Bone Marrow taking immunosuppressive drugs, although some still Transplant is one sure cure for this condition. require narcotics for chronic pain because of sickle cell-related organ damage. Blood tests on the six Details of the study: For the study, the Johns Hopkins patients show that their red cells are now completely team screened 19 patients to find bone marrow donors derived from their donor’s marrow. with either half-identical or fully matched tissue. Each transplant candidate had experienced many severe Of the 17 patients, six transplants were not successful; pain crises, significant organ problems, or had failed however, because of the reduced intensity of the hydroxyruea, the only drug known to curtail sickle cell conditioning regimen, all of these patients recovered symptoms. The team found donors for 17 of the 19 their own blood cells. patients: 14 were half-identical and three were fully matched siblings. The youngest patient was 15; the If clinical trials are successful, this could prove to be a oldest 46. new ray of hope to those many Thalassemia patients in India for whom finding a fully matched bone marrow is Before each transplant, sickle cell patients received a being difficult. “ c o n d i t i o n i n g ” r e g i m e n o f l o w - d o s e immunosuppression drugs, low toxicity chemotherapy, Source: http://www.news-medical.net news article and low-dose total body irradiation. After the dated 21 September 2012 BUILD YOUR BOND WITH THE PATRIKA! Participate If you are wondering how Sankalp Patrika’s operation is funded? This magazine is printed from the contribution of the volunteers of Sankalp India Foundation. Your participation and support is vital to keep this newsletter going. If you wish to contribute towards the publication of this newspaper, please contact the publisher at 9880132850/[email protected]. Contribute We invite you to contribute your articles and stories for printing in Sankalp Patrika. You can mail the digital copy of your article to [email protected] or send them by post to the office of the publisher. Subscribe Are you interested in receiving a copy of Sankalp Patrika regularly? Please write to the publisher or sms/mail us your name and address to 9880132850/[email protected].

We all have to work in our respective spheres with the same dedication, his has to be shown not by mere words, but by actual deeds - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 9 October 2012 Second Level of Care and Treatment at Thalassemia Day Care While the standard procedures to be adopted for the exceptional scenarios the doctors at IGICH are children who are undertaking transfusion support have coordinating with us to ensure continued treatment and been streamlined, the hard work and dedication of the care for the children. In the month of September the doctors is being rewarded with even more work. organization supported the supply of medicines for the Realizing the quality of treatment and the services at children suffering from Aplastic Anemia for a week. Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, there are Beside this, the organization has been funding the several children who are coming for treatment thyroid profile test for all children at the day care center. procedures at the institute. As we come close to the first anniversary of the day The institute takes care of most of the tests and the care, Sankalp volunteers are delighted to have procedures in-house. However there are times when received support and participation from everyone at some tests need to be done outside the hospital or IGICH and Applied Materials besides a whole lot of some medicines need to be purchased. Some families friends and well wishers coming together to convert the are so poor that they simply do not afford to get these dream of running an effective day care center into tests done or pay for the medicines. In these reality. Sharing Happiness and the Thalassemia Day Care As we inch close to the anniversary of the thalassemia day care center at Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health we share with you the story of the kind thoughful souls who work and contribute behind the scene to help the who suffer from thalassemia.

ABC Org “ABC is a choice..! Choice we make to solve the problem than to turn away from it.”

This is what a young group of engineers who had got together to serve the society have to say about her happy. One fine day when Lakshmi came to their group. We at Sankalp have seen them put the hospital, she had with her packets of biscuits words into action. Some children were dropping and a whole lot of toys. out of treatment simply because they were unable to bear the cost of travel. They were identified and Like Lakshmi, Shilpa Jairaj also decided to transportation reimbursement was offered to surprise the little children. She realised that the them. It is then that ABC came forward and offered toys from the daycare had gradually disappeared. to take care of the travel reimbursement. One fine day she brought with herself a whole lot of toys - or should we say smiles, giggles and loads of Without fail every month they transfer their fun? contribution to our account, thus enabling some The cheers are spreading. The smiles are children who would have simply dropped out of contagious. What more can you expect from a treatment live a better and happier life. place where 175 kids come month after month and spend a day with their friends. You make a difference! Besides the fact that the contributions themselves Individual Contributors have an impact, the Sankalp volunteers are A young engineering graduate, Lakshmi often moved by the gesture of fellow men and women - spends some time with the children at the who are walking an extra mile and trying to do their thalassemia day care. Playing with them makes bit to give these children a better chance.

Be it any field of work, above all, what is required is hard sustained work and dedication - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 10 October 2012 National Voluntary Blood Donation Day – 1st October Observation of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day in our country started on 1st October 1975, under the initiative of Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology (established on 22nd October 1971) with the guidance of Mrs.K.Swaroop Krishen( a well known social worker in the field of voluntary blood donation movement in India) and Dr.J.G.Jolly, the then in charge of Blood Bank, P.G.I. Chandigarh. Since then, the 1st October of each year is being observed throughout the country as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.

Celebration for National Voluntary Blood Donation Day Dr. R.S.Kulkarn from Sharada Dhanvanthri Charitable Hospitals Sringeri shared with the report on the national voluntary blood donation day celebration. National Voluntary Blood Donation day was observed on 2nd October 2012. Lecture on Importance of Voluntary blood donation was delivered by Dr.R.S.Kulkarni Blood Bank Medical officer. Voluntary blood donation camp was arranged jointly by SDCH Blood Bank, Rotary international, Inner wheel and JCI Sringeri at Sri. JCBM Collage Sringeri, Chickamagalur Dist. 55 units of blood collected from NCC and NSS students of JCBM collage.

The basic idea of governance, as I see it, is to hold the society together so that it can develop and march towards certain goals.- Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 11 October 2012 Sankalp Events Blood Donation Drive @ September. The first one was at Maharani Women’s college, Mysore where more than 20 students Doddaballapura: enthusiastically attended the training program. Child watches what the parent does, that is the best education. That what parents of a school in A second training was held at VDRIT, Haliyal. Here a Doddaballapura did. On 9th September 2012, 50 of set of 3 sessions were held. While a full fledged camp them donated blood in a drive held in the school training was given to the students in the engineering campus. Certainly these parents have sowed the college, motivational and awareness sessions were seeds of voluntary blood donation in the minds of their conducted to the many first time donors @ Polytechnic children. Kudos to them! and degree colleges. The team in the engineering college went on to conduct the blood donation drive with more than 180 units of blood being collected. Second Blood Donation Drives @ KPIT and WNS: A second blood donation drive @ KPIT saw the turnout of more than 200 people coming in. Despite this massive response (1.5 times the expectation), quality standards and adherence to safety policies were at the best possible levels. Thus out of 219 donors who turned up, only 158 could donate blood.

A second blood donation drive was also held @ WNS. T h i s w a s t h e i r second drive in this calender year. 82 donors rolled up their sleeves to donate blood here. Disha reaches out to more people: Disha, the blood helpline is already connected to more Blood Donation Drive @ than 50 blood banks. As part of Sankalp’s constant endeavor to reach out to people in need of blood, 3 Kennametal: more blood banks from 2 districts were included in the A blood donation drive was organized in Kennametal helpline. Sanjeevini blood bank from Tumkur and for the first time on September 21st. There was great District Hospital blood bank from Tumkur were included participation from company, a lot of motivational into the helpline thereby enabling better access to safe posters were put up, a week long publicity program was blood to the people of that region. held. This resulted in a fabulous collection of 160 units of blood collected. Coming in as a part of the helpline is district hospital blood bank from Gulbarga. Also, in a sustained effort to Team Red Training @ Dharwad make people aware on how to get access to safe blood, stickers and posters were sent to more than 400 and Mysore: hospitals across Karnataka. Two team red training were conducted in the month of Those who govern must see how the people react to administration. Ultimately, the people are the final arbiters.- Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 12 October 2012 Thoughts Of Lal Bahadur Shastri In 1956, one man showed the true meaning of responsibility to all Indians. After 2 railway accidents (one at Mahbubnagar that led to 112 deaths in September and the other at Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu that resulted in 144 deaths in December), this great man, the then railway minister of India took moral responsibility for these accidents and resigned from office. Lal Bahadur Shastri, who later went on to become the had redefined responsibility and leadership that day. October 2nd happens to be his birth anniversary. Here we capture some of his views on some very important factors that contribute to nation building. These are excerpts of his speeches made during his reign as the PM of India (1964- 1966)

JUDICIARY Judiciary in India holds a place of pride in the country and outside. At present, there is a tendency in our country to defy law and authority. If this were continued, it would be a bad day for India and would cut at the very roots of our nascent democracy. The rule of law should be respected so that the basic structure of our democracy is maintained and further strengthened. Whatever your station in future life, each one of you should first of all think of yourselves as citizens of the DEVELOPMENT country. A good citizen is one who obeys the law, The economic issues are most vital for us and it is of the whether there is a policeman around or not, and who highest importance that we should fight our biggest takes delight in performing his civic duties. enemies – Poverty, unemployment. Whether it is agriculture or industrial development, or for that matter, RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER NATIONS development in other fields, the basic fact remains – The world is at the moment passing through very that it would serve the largest number of our people difficult times. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that never before in the recent past had mankind to grapple PATRIOTISM with problems of as complex a nature as are My patriotism is subservient to my religion. I cling to confronting it today. It is imperative that satisfactory India like a child to its mother’s breast, because I feel and, as far as possible, lasting solutions should be that she gives me the spiritual nourishment I need. She found to these problems without undue delay, has the environment that responds to my highest otherwise there is a danger of the situation getting out aspiration. Never forget that loyalty to the country of hand. Mutual suspicions, hatred and ill-will between comes ahead of all other loyalties. And this is an nations and groups of persons have to be removed at absolute loyalty, since one cannot weigh it in terms of all costs and sincere and determined efforts have to be what one receives. It is essential to remember that the made to ensure that differences and outstanding entire country is one and that any one who fosters or problems are resolved by mutual discussion in a spirit promotes separatism or fissiparous tendencies is not of understanding, and not by the use of force. Wars and our true friend. conflicts, as we know to our cost, always create more problems than they succeed in solving. The great ‘ advances made by science and technology, We believe in peace and peaceful development, not only for ourselves but for people all over the world - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 13 October 2012

The country can progress only if it does away completely with fissiparous tendencies and emerges as an integrated whole. And it is in the field of education that the seed of secularism has to be sown at the earliest stages, so that the plant can be carefully nurtured as it grows.

India will have to hang down her head in shame if even one person is left who is said in any way to be untouchable. It would be my proud privilege to work for the establishment of a more just social order. The aim must be the complete removal of untouchability and the doing away of the prevailing serious inequalities in status and wealth. particularly in the field of nuclear and thermonuclear NATION BUILDING energy, have placed an almost unlimited power at the We, in India, have our own special problems. No one disposal of mankind. This power can be used either for can deny that some of them are of a serious nature and constructive or for destructive purposes and it is up to must be tackled with vigor and determination. Our us to try to derive the fullest possible benefit from it. national objective has been defined clearly and unambiguously. We aim that every citizen should be NATIONAL INTEGRITY provided with the basic necessities of life and should In this vast country of ours, people profess different have complete freedom to lead the life of his or her own religions, speak different languages, dress differently choice. We aim at a democratic society, strong and and observe different customs; but we are one nation; free, in which every citizen, irrespective of his religious the history of our struggle for independence and our belief, will occupy an equal and honored place, and will faith in our future development are our common bonds. be given full and equal opportunities for growth and service. Among the major tasks before us none is of greater importance for our strength and stability than the task of We are opposed to the concentration of wealth in a few building up the unity and solidarity of our people. Our hands. Our rich cultural heritage extending over country has often stood as a solid rock in the face of countless centuries is not the culture of this community common danger and there is a deep underlying unity or that but the synthesis of the cultures of the great which runs like a golden thread through all our seeming peoples who lived here at various times in the past. The diversity. A democratic country is sustained not by the objectives I have mentioned are by no means easy of greatness of a few but by the co-operative effort of the achievement in their entirety. I know that we have met many. with only a limited degree of success so far, but we have to persevere until the goal is achieved. Our position with regard to secularism is known so well that it hardly needs any reiteration. It is embodied in our It must be remembered that the vast majority of Indians Constitution, which ensures equal respect for all are extremely poor and it is only a small minority that religions and equal opportunities for all citizens, live in relative comfort and have the benefit of university irrespective of their caste and creed and the faith which education and other worthwhile things. It is when we they profess. In spite of a seeming diversity, there is a look at the Indian scene in such a perspective that fundamental unity in India, which we all cherish and it Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsecs and others, has to be our constant endeavor to maintain and instead of feeling that they are different, will together strengthen this unity. begin to put forth a tremendous effort to fight poverty, to eradicate disease and banish illiteracy.

India will have to hang down her head in shame if even one person is left who is said in any way to be untouchable - Lal Bahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 14 October 2012 Life Is Beautiful A beautiful story as narrated by a New York City cab driver. Sometimes we probably just need to open our eyes and enjoy the beauty of life

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She furniture was covered with sheets. showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard We drove through the neighborhood where she and her box filled with photos and glassware. husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had 'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the a girl. woman. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the building or corner and would sit staring into the curb. darkness, saying nothing.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'. would want my mother to be treated.' We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It 'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in was a low building, like a small convalescent home, the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, with a driveway that passed under a portico. 'Could you drive through downtown?' Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.. up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her They must have been expecting her. Building unity and solidarity among people is one of the most major tasks in nation building - Lal Bhahadur Shastri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 15 October 2012 Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria In our attempt to introduce to our readers the help of Swedish armoured vehicles. bravest of the brave - The winners of the Captain Salaria coveted , today we talk arrived about 1500 yards from the about Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria. b l o c k a d e a n d instantly met with Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria was born on 29th very heavy fire from November 1935 in village Jangla near Dinanagar in automatic assault Pathankot district, Punjab. His father was Chaudhary r i f l e s f r o m Munshi Ram Salaria. undetected enemy dugouts on his He studied from Rashtriya Military School, Bangalore right. (erstwhile King George School, Bangalore) and Rashtriya Military School, Chail (erstwhile King George S e e i n g t h e School, Jalandhar). After schooling, he joined the 9th importance of this batch of National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla. roundabout in securing the UN Headquarters, Captain He was commissioned in the 1st Gorkha Rifles (the Salaria decided to act and led a charge with bayonets, Maluan Regiment) on 9 June 1957; he was posted to khukris, and grenades supported by a rocket launcher. the third battalion of the Regiment. In this gallant effort, he and his men killed 40 of the enemy troops. This completely unexpected move In 1961, after the Belgians quit Congo, a civil war demoralized the rebel troops and they fled away. situation developed in that country. When the United Captain Salaria was shot in the neck in the combat. But Nations decided upon military intervention, India sent a this didn’t deterred him and he continued to fight till he brigade of around 3000 men to the U.N. force. Captain collapsed due to loss of blood. Salaria was a member of the peace keeping mission and was posted in Katanga, Congo. Katanga was a Captain Salaria's actions prevented the Katangese major trouble area in the country and the rebels there rebels from encircling the UN Headquarters in were especially against UN troops. Elisabethville. His leadership, courage, unflinching devotion to duty and disregard for personal safety were On 5 December 1961, a 3/1 GR Company supported in the best traditions of the and for this by 3-inch mortar attacked a road-block, established by Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria was posthumously the Katangese troops, between HQ Katanga command awarded the highest wartime medal, Param Vir and the Elisabethville airfield at a strategic roundabout. Chakra. The plan was to attack the post from the front with the

morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the of the closing of a life.. door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove 'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could purse. hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What 'Nothing,' I said if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? 'You have to make a living,' she answered. On a quick review, I don't think that I have done 'There are other passengers,' I responded. anything more important in my life.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around held onto me tightly. great moments.

‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully said. 'Thank you.' wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim Sampling out corruption is a very tough job, but with determination this can be achieved - Lal Bahadur Sahstri Sankalp Patrika Volume 2 Issue 10 Page 16 October 2012 Blood Requests that were Lessons to Learn From Sankalp India Foundation got Bombay Blood increase her hemoglobin were taken. However, due to the low hemoglobin level at the time of delivery, the Group requests for 11 people counting up to doctors wanted 2 units of blood on a standby. In 20 units in the third quarter of 2012. The communicating the need to the community, one of the doctors mentioned -'even Bombay Negative'blood is following are the selected blood requests out required. This somehow was understood as Bombay of these where there is something to be learnt negative blood is required and suddenly the whole for all of us. nature of the request went for a toss. Fortunately one of the very few Bombay negative donors, who was contacted by the family, contacted Sankalp to cross 2 units Whole Blood from KMC,Manipal check. If he had not made that call, he would have A person met with an accident and was admitted to proceeded to Tumkur believing that Bombay negative KMC,Manipal for treatment. The doctors requested for blood is required. 2 units of Bombay Blood Group to be arranged. Dr Sudha Bhat is one person who has been organising for For this request, 2 individuals from Chikamagalur were Bombay blood Group frequently. When we called the contacted who came forward and donated. A girl who blood bank, we realised that adequate arrangement for needs 3 units of Bombay negative to proceed with her donors had already been made by the blood bank. cardiac surgery had more probability of getting However, in the next 2 days numerous people from all operated since this Bombay negative unit was saved in walks of life were calling the helpline. In-spite of the fact this situation. that it was clearly known to the family that the donors would be coming in and Learning: Before a donor donating, somehow the level proceeds to donate blood of panic did not seem to when called in an emergency, subside at all. be sure to check with someone who knows the situation well. A very regular and reliable donor from the region was in Bombay+ 2 units from Bangalore. He was travelling back to Udupi and had agreed MP to donate. But in the interim A lady with HB of 7 underwent duration, it was extremely hard an abortion. Her blood group to keep panic under control got identified only after with the family making admission. She was bleeding constant appeals for more donors. profusely and needed urgent transfusion. In haste the doctors decided to take a chance and transfused O+ As it is Bombay blood group donors are hard to find. learning to a severe reaction. Transfusion was stopped Even with 2 willing donors available to donate, immediately. unfortunately this blood request snowballed into a situation involving hundreds of individuals trying to do Once it was known that the lady needed Bombay blood something to help. group, search was initiated and a unit of blood was found on shelf in Salem. However, in the crisis situation Learning: When someone get's to know that a person that it was, the patient's sister, who is feeding a five is in need of blood, the best thing is to forward the months old child was forced into donating blood. The helpline number to the closest relative. This way, the patient recovered before the arrangement to transport person who is in charge of the situation can directly the unit from Salem to Indore could be made. interact and unnecessary confusion and panic is avoided. Learning: We as a country need better channels to transport the extremely rare blood units across the country. With the increasing penetration of aviation, it is Bombay+ 2 units Whole Blood from time that a well defined strategy for the airlines to help Tumkur in transporting blood across cities be put in place. This was a pregnancy case where the blood group of the lady was identified a couple of months back. She was put on iron supplements and all necessary steps to

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