‘Over 200 Jains have embraced digital donorship’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 16: In a pioneering move, the Jain community in Jammu and Kashmir has started a community-driven initiative to motivate Jains across the UT to donate organs, including those from the brain-dead or deceased individuals, such as eyes and kidneys.
Under a campaign, “Mokshpath,” which literally means the path of salvation, run by the J&K chapter of a Pune based NGO, Bhartiya Jain Sangathana (BJP), the community has been appealing Jains to register digitally on the website of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Jammu and Kashmir, to donate the organs.
Dr Elias Sharma, Nodal Officer, SOTTO Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the initiative has resulted in over 20 live kidney transplants and 20-25 corneal transplants, enhancing the lives of recipients.
Notably, the Jain community has contributed significantly, with 14 eyes donated for corneal transplants, showcasing their commitment to altruistic giving.
Sandeep Jain (Sunny), President of Mokshpath, shared that the campaign began in October 2023 and has seen over 200 registrations from the Jain community on the SOTTO website.
Surprisingly, among the seven people whose eyes were donated, six had not registered with SOTTO, highlighting the spontaneous generosity within the community.
Sunny emphasized the Jain principle that views the body as a temporary vessel for the soul and encourages detachment from the physical form.
He said Jainism advocates using the body to benefit others, both in life and death. Through Mokshpath, he said, the community engages with the families of the deceased, promoting the idea of organ donation based on these religious principles.
With 40 active members and collaboration with various Jain religious bodies, Mokshpath identifies instances of death within the community.
Following a respectful period, they approach the deceased person’s parents through community programs to discuss and encourage organ donation.
Bhartiya Jain Sangathana, known for its commitment to public welfare, has a history of providing support during crises, such as offering pre-fabricated sheds to those affected by the 2005 earthquake.
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