It
began as an effort to provide help for the last rites of the dead. But
in death, this organization has brought light to the lives of over 1,000
blind persons.
Shri Hari Seva Trust (SHST) based in the city has motivated persons to donate eyes and even provides service to those who are willing to do so.
SHST had started the work of providing material for last rites as well as vans to carry the dead to crematoriums in 2003. But realizing the acute need of eye donors, the organization started motivating the relatives of the deceased to donate their eyes since 2006. And so far its efforts have ensured that eyes of 1,007 deceased persons are donated.
Managing trustee of SHST Mahesh Thakkar said that whenever a person calls the trust for cremation material or a van, the person attending the call on behalf of the trust asks them if they would like to donate the eyes of the deceased persons.
"While not all agree, this has ensured that around eight to nine eyes are donated through us every month," Thakkar said.
The organization has tied up with city-based Vaduwala Eye Hospital for the donations. It has also earmarked a van that is used only to facilitate the donations. "Whenever someone agrees for eye donation after death, we call up the hospital that keeps a doctor ready. The van picks up the doctor who removes the eyes from the body and takes them to the hospital in the van itself," said Thakkar.
Thakkar said that they were promoting the activity by distributing literature at condolence meetings of known persons and through their placards at crematoriums. The trust was also working with 50 blind persons and six of them have been donated eyes so far.
Tabrez Qureshi, 27, who is able to see thanks to an eye donation said that being able to see properly has brought a major change in his life. "I have become independent. Earlier, I could hardly see things at a distance. After getting sight, I did a diploma in performing arts as I was interested in singing," he said. Qureshi says that the society should realize that their gesture of eye donation could change somebody's life. "The person would give them blessings till he is alive," he said.
Source : TOI , 6th August 2013
Shri Hari Seva Trust (SHST) based in the city has motivated persons to donate eyes and even provides service to those who are willing to do so.
SHST had started the work of providing material for last rites as well as vans to carry the dead to crematoriums in 2003. But realizing the acute need of eye donors, the organization started motivating the relatives of the deceased to donate their eyes since 2006. And so far its efforts have ensured that eyes of 1,007 deceased persons are donated.
Managing trustee of SHST Mahesh Thakkar said that whenever a person calls the trust for cremation material or a van, the person attending the call on behalf of the trust asks them if they would like to donate the eyes of the deceased persons.
"While not all agree, this has ensured that around eight to nine eyes are donated through us every month," Thakkar said.
The organization has tied up with city-based Vaduwala Eye Hospital for the donations. It has also earmarked a van that is used only to facilitate the donations. "Whenever someone agrees for eye donation after death, we call up the hospital that keeps a doctor ready. The van picks up the doctor who removes the eyes from the body and takes them to the hospital in the van itself," said Thakkar.
Thakkar said that they were promoting the activity by distributing literature at condolence meetings of known persons and through their placards at crematoriums. The trust was also working with 50 blind persons and six of them have been donated eyes so far.
Tabrez Qureshi, 27, who is able to see thanks to an eye donation said that being able to see properly has brought a major change in his life. "I have become independent. Earlier, I could hardly see things at a distance. After getting sight, I did a diploma in performing arts as I was interested in singing," he said. Qureshi says that the society should realize that their gesture of eye donation could change somebody's life. "The person would give them blessings till he is alive," he said.
Source : TOI , 6th August 2013
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