Organ Donors in Odisha to Receive Full State Honours for Life-Saving Contributions

Bhubaneswar: In a move to encourage organ donation and inspire others to follow suit, the Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik, announced today that organ donors will now receive State Honours during their last rites. This recognition aims to create widespread awareness and positive sentiment towards organ donation, ultimately saving more lives.

The Chief Minister highlighted the significant role of families in consenting to cadaver organ donation (COD), emphasizing their courage in making such decisions. He expressed hope that acknowledging organ donors would foster positive awareness throughout society.

In 2019, the Odisha Government established the State Organ & Tissues Transplant Organization (SOTTO) to streamline organ transplants within the state. Additionally, the Suraj Award, initiated in 2020, commemorates an accident victim whose family’s consent facilitated organ donation, saving the lives of six individuals.