By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 27: Randeep Batta, who describes himself as the first Indian to embark on a nationwide blood donation awareness campaign, is currently on a mission to promote voluntary blood donation through his ‘Kashmir to Kanyakumari – Raktdaan Jaagrukta Abhiyan’.
As part of this solo journey, Batta is travelling across every state in the country to spread awareness and motivate people to come forward for blood donation. He has so far donated blood 133 times and platelets 55 times—a total of 188 donations—and has already completed donations in 27 states.
His next stop was Meghalaya, where he donated blood at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences today, marking the 28th state in his nationwide mission.
Sharing his experience, Batta recalled how he continued donating during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the country grappled with shortages and restrictions. Without any logistical support, he acted “as a one-man army”, contributing blood and platelets 21 times during the crisis.
India continues to face a critical shortfall in blood supply, impacting patients undergoing surgeries, emergency treatments, and those battling conditions like thalassemia and cancer. Batta said the gap between demand and supply can only be bridged through greater awareness and voluntary participation.
He has appealed to the Government of India and the Prime Minister’s Office to extend support to his campaign so that it can reach a wider audience.
With official backing, he said, more camps can be organised and efforts intensified to make the country self-sufficient in blood availability.
