Odisha Govt Issues Notification On State Honours For Organ Donors

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to promote organ donation and save lives, the Odisha government has announced it will conduct the last rites of organ donors with full state honours. This decision, announced on February 19th, follows Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s earlier declaration of state honours for organ donors.

Odisha’s initiative goes beyond state funerals. Since 2020, the state has instituted the “Suraj Award” in memory of Late Suraj Behera, whose parents donated his organs. Donor families receive a cash award of Rs 5 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) and are complimented annually on World Organ Donation Day.

The decision to offer state honours is expected to significantly impact societal perceptions and encourage more individuals to consider organ donation. This recognition of the selfless act is a powerful motivator, potentially saving countless lives in the future.

This move echoes a similar step taken by Tamil Nadu last September, where Chief Minister M K Stalin announced state honours for organ donors. Both states aim to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and encourage more people to consider this selfless act.