MP govt's 'Guard of Honour' initiative boosts organ donation cases in Indore
Indore, May 11
The Madhya Pradesh government's 'Guard of Honour' initiative for deceased organ donors has led to a more than 25 per cent increase in organ donation cases in Indore, officials said on Monday.
The initiative, introduced in July 2025, provides ceremonial honours to organ donors during their last rites to recognise their contribution and encourage more families to come forward for organ donation.
Indore Divisional Commissioner Sudam Khade said the initiative has helped raise awareness and foster social acceptance of organ donation in the city.
"Since the implementation of the Guard of Honour protocol for organ donors, cases of organ donation have increased by over 25 per cent," Khade said while addressing a meeting of social media influencers at the Divisional Commissioner's office.
He said organ and body donation are noble acts that save the lives of critically ill patients. However, fear, superstition, and lack of awareness still discourage many people from making decisions related to organ donation.
Khade urged social media influencers to help raise awareness and dispel misconceptions about organ and body donation through public campaigns and positive communication.
He said Indore has emerged as the leading district in Madhya Pradesh in organ and body donation.
The availability of air ambulance services in the state has also helped in the timely transportation of organs for transplant procedures.
During the meeting, officials explained the organ donation process and shared details of successful transplant cases in the city.
Khade said counselling donor families plays an important role in encouraging organ donation and helping families cope with grief.
Sandipan Arya of the Muskan Group said Indore's first 'Green Corridor' for organ transportation was created in 2015.
Since then, 67 green corridors have been established in the city for the quick transportation of organs.
He said Indore currently ranks second in the country in skin donation.
Eye donations in the city increased from 2,237 in 2024 to 2,748 in 2025, while organ donation authorisations rose from 135 in 2024 to 202 in 2025.
Indore currently has three eye banks.
Officials also highlighted two hand transplant cases linked to Indore, including one involving a young engineer from the city and another involving a 19-year-old girl from Navsari district in Gujarat.
The administration plans to expand awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and public places to further promote organ and body donation in Indore.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's heartening to see such progress in organ donation awareness. I'm from Canada originally but have been living in Indore for work. The cultural shift here is remarkable - the 'Guard of Honour' idea is simple but brilliant. Kudos to the administration for thinking beyond just statistics.
Finally a government initiative that actually works! 👏 But I wish they would also focus on removing superstitions from rural areas. My grandmother still thinks donating organs will affect the afterlife. The awareness campaigns in schools and colleges should include family counselling too.
Great to see Indore leading the way! As someone who's been on the transplant waiting list for 2 years, I can't express how much this means. The 67 green corridors for organ transport are impressive. Hope other districts in MP follow suit soon.
Impressive numbers - 25% increase is significant! The psychological aspect of giving honor to donors is crucial. In the West, we have donor registries but lack this ceremonial recognition. India is innovating in the right direction. The hand transplant cases mentioned are fascinating examples of medical progress.
This is wonderful but I have one concern - the article says counselling donor families is important, but are there enough trained counselors? We need more investment in grief support along with awareness campaigns. Still, 202 authorizations in 2025 vs 135 in 2024 shows real progress. 🌟
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