April 30, 2011: The Sant Nirankari Mission through Sant Nirankari Charitable Foundation organised 70 Blood Donation Camps across the country on a single day today. The main camp held at the headquarters of the Mission in Delhi was inaugurated by His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj. Over 1350 devotees of the Mission donated their blood.
In Delhi, while Indian Red Cross Society coordinated, the blood collecting teams came from AIIMS, GTB Hospital, Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, LNJP Hospital, GB Pant Hospital, Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, Kasturba Gandhi Hospital and Dr.Hedgewar Hospital. Every care was taken regarding hygienic surrounding, pre-donation tests and post- donation care. Snacks were served to all the donors on behalf of the Foundation. Inaugurating the Camp, His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj said that the Mission today is expressing its gratitude to Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and many devotees of the Mission for their supreme sacrifice for humanity. In fact, the devotees of the Mission are always ready to make their contribution physically, mentally and materially for the welfare of the mankind. Blood donation camps are one medium to express their dedication. The Mission holds blood donation camps not only in India but abroad also.
Baba Ji said that the spirit of selfless service with which the devotees of the Mission donate their blood is a unique example for the world where selfishness seems to have become the culture of the people. Selfishness always leads to damage while selfless service promotes peace, love and cooperation.
The volunteers of the Sant Nirankari Sewadal took out a rally from Model Town – II that concluded at the venue of the Blood Donation Camp. More than 100 volunteers participated with 33 motorcycles, 6 cars and 2 tempos. His Holiness blessed the participants.
Besides Delhi, 9 camps were organised each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh; 5 each in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat; 4 each in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab; 3 each in West Bengal and Jharkhand; 2 each in Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar and Uttarakhand; and 1 each in Chandigarh, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura.
These blood donation camps were organised as a part of Manav Ekta Diwas samagam to commomorate the supreme sacrifice of the former Head of the Mission, Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji who fell to the bullets of some misguided orthodox fanatics on this day in 1980. Tributes were also paid to devotees of the Mission who laid down their lives for the same cause that is, human unity based on spiritual enlightenment.
The Mission today is one of the leading blood donating voluntary organisations in India. Even though the Mission’s first blood donation camp was organised in Delhi in November 1986, these camps have been organised every year since 1987 as a part of Manav Ekta Diwas Samagam. In 1997, these camps were staggered to be organised throughout summer i.e., from April to September, when the blood banks normally face acute shortage of blood. Since 2009, these camps are organised almost round the year beginning from April 24, of course. Last year, the Mission organised 364 blood donation camps throughout the country.
Amazing work! Well done for keeping blood flowing through the veins of humaity.