JOIN USA group of budding engineers are busy not just learning the ropes of nation building, but also offering unparalleled service to the needy. With the SJCE Blood Book, they are saving crucial lives, finds out Lakshman T Naik.
An engineering degree in hand, a job at Wipro that fetches a handsome salary, a car for commuting and a bike to hop over to the market nearby.
This is the story of not just Dharanendra Ajith Chivate, but also of Surendra Patil of Raichur and Mysore’s Ravishankar, Chandan, Adithya, Arjun and Sethuram. Job offers have engulfed these eighth semester students; some of them already have offer letters in hand. Once results are out, it is computers and more computers for these young engineers.
Right now, however, these students are on a continuing blood tour. Be it any corner of Mysore or Bangalore, these men can be found there.
Do not wonder. This is one achievement the students of the prestigious Sri Jagadguru Engineering College (SJCE), Mysore are very proud of. The pioneering efforts of these students in starting a Blood Donation Movement to save lives in the nick of time have gained a place in contemporary history.
It was December 2009. Having finished their first semester exam, the students were lounging in the college campus. A senior citizen from Pandavapura approached them and asked if anyone could donate blood for his granddaughter. The group fell silent.
Dharanendra did not waste time. He took the old man on his bike to K R Hospital. After donating A+ve blood, he went to check on the sleeping child. Doctors were preparing for immediate blood transfusion. Back from the hospital, Dharanendra met his peers and they discussed blood donation. Some frowned upon the idea. But a determined Dharanendra managed to convince them and the SJCE Blood Book was born.
The group began with three members which has expanded to more than 300 now. The entire college is getting enrolled in the Blood Book, with online registration being done in hostel rooms! Now, look for any type of blood and it is available in SJCE. A phone call or an SMS and the required blood type donor is before you in a jiffy!
There are several educational institutions in Mysore, including the Mysore University, the Karnataka State Open University right next to it, NIE engineering college and yet, SJCE stands out from the crowd.
People in need of blood come straight to SJCE now, thanks Dharanendra and his friends. Hailing from a middle class family in Belgaum district’s Gokak which mainly cultivates sugarcane for a living, Dharanendra completed his PUC at Gokak and wrote the CET.
He chose his favourite environmental engineering course.
Upon completing the first semester Dharanendra began creating awareness about blood donation. In 2009, he started the Youth Forum in his college comprising 20-30 friends. As days passed, the membership increased to more than 1,000 with more students expressing interest in joining the forum.
This inspired Dharanendra to start the SJCE Blood Book for the sole purpose of blood donation. He sent a missive to all the branches calling upon students to donate blood to the needy. The project hit a wall. The moment they were told to submit their names and phone numbers, most members began hesitating, the students coming from rural areas in particular.
Dharanendra then sent an SMS to most of his college friends, speaking of the benefits of blood donation and contribution to society. The SMSes were followed by meetings and discussions which began to have an effect. Some students promised to seek their parents’ permission during vacation and when classes resumes, they promptly got themselves registered. In no time, the number crossed 1,000.
SJCE has 12 branches with around 2,300 students out of which more than 1,250 are found in the Blood Book. They have already donated blood to more than 130 patients, with 2-3 donations taking place daily. The students ensure that the noble activity is not disrupted during college holidays.
Among the donors, there are several who have donated blood four times during the year. It is easy to obtain blood of common groups. But it becomes extremely difficult to seek rare blood groups like O-ve, B-ve, AB-ve and A-ve. Dharanendra and friends are happy that their Blood Book offers hope in such cases. Students can easily register their names in the Blood Book – an SMS to Dharanendra’s cellphone number 9844828272 stating your name, blood group and the branch you are studying will do the job. Names can be registered online by visiting www.sjceyouthforum.blogspot.com. Those in need of blood can also visit the website and collect details.
Initially, Dharanendra’s team faced the challenge of determining who needed blood the most. While some favoured organising camps, others suggested donating blood at a hospital once a year. But, the group finally decided on donating blood only to those who were hospitalised or were involved in an accident and were facing hardships. Fearing misuse, the members spend their money to visit the patients and donate blood when and where necessary.
(Translated by B S Srivani)
The SJCE Blood Book is not exclusive to the college. Dharanendra and friends have contacted six other colleges in Mysore as well as friends from outside Mysore. The Blood Book is on its way to spread its wings and turn into a state-wide movement. The eighth semester results are to be announced soon and Dharanendra is on his way out, keen to continue the work he started in college. And in four-five months, the college will have a fresh batch of students. Dharanendra is looking forward to some ‘fresh blood’. After all, is there a better service than donating blood?
Translated by B S Srivani