ORGAN (Organ Receiving & Giving Awareness Network) India, an initiative of the NGOs Parashar Foundation & the Vijaya Gujral Foundation, in association with National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) held the Third Collaborative Conclave for Organ Donation with all the NGOs in the field of organ donation on November 29th, 2018 in New Delhi. The conclave was inaugurated by Dr. Vasanthi Ramesh, Director, NOTTO, Directorate General of Health Services, MoHFW, GOI. Dr. Promila Gupta, Principal Consultant, DGHS, MoHFW, GOI graced the occasion as a Special Guest. Dr. Harsha Jauhari (Technical Advisor, NOTP, DGHS, MoHFW, GOI), Dr. Anil Kumar (Additional DDG, NOTP Programme Officer, DGHS, MoHFW, GOI), Dr. Sanjay Agarwal (Professor & Head, Dept. of Nephrology, AIIMS) and Dr. Vipin Kaushal (Nodal Officer, ROTTO Chandigarh) were some of the prominent government dignitaries present at the conclave.

The conclave was attended by around 70 participants from over 13 NGOs and other stakeholders working on organ donation all across India, from states such as Assam, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and ROTTO Northern region team from PGI Chandigarh amongst others. This year representatives from the following NGOs from different parts of the country participated in the conclave – MOHAN Foundation, MOTHER, Shine India Foundation, Dadhichi Deh Dan Samiti, A Million Pledges, Zublee Foundation, Apex Kidney Foundation, Muskan Group, Kiran Foundation, Light a Life Reena Raju Foundation, Gift of Life Adventure, NNOS Foundation, and Mindsparks Foundation. Medical professionals from Lady Hardinge Medical College and Safdarjung Medical College & Hospital also participated in the conclave. There were some new faces at the conclave which made it a more diverse and interesting event. Representatives from ROTTO Chandigarh, Kiran Foundation (Bhopal, MP), and Mindsparks Foundation (Lucknow, UP) attended for the first time. Ms. Pallavi Kumar, Executive Director Delhi NCR, MOHAN Foundation was an invited speaker for the session on ‘How NGOs can partner with hospitals to encourage and set up an organ donation awareness programme.’

Anil Srivatsa, an organ donor himself, from Gift of Life Adventure who works tirelessly to help organ donors and recipients was present as was the indomitable Reena Raju, a double heart recipient and Founder of Light a Life Reena Raju Foundation. Reena is the Team Manager - India for the World Transplant Games 2019 to be held from 17 – 24 August 2019 in UK. Her Foundation has got India's membership renewed with the World Transplant Games Federation and is actively involved in the preparations for the games. Anyone interested in participating in the games can contact Reena on [email protected]