<p>Mysuru: The Karnataka government honoured the families of 118 cadaver organ donors across Karnataka on Friday. They were presented with certificates of appreciation, signed by the Chief Minister and Health Minister during the Independence Day celebrations in their respective district. It was aimed at recognising the donors' noble gesture and encouraging others towards organ donation.</p><p>It was an emotional yet a moment of pride for Renukamma and G R Ningaraju, parents of 30-year-old G N Harish of Gayanahalli of KR Nagar taluk, Mysuru district, and the families of such 117 other cadaver organ donors in the state. </p><p>These families donated the organs earlier in 2025 after their dear ones were declared brain dead, witnessed a fatal accident, or due to similar reasons. Their decisions to donate helped saving the lives of patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. </p>.Bengaluru engineer’s organ donation saves multiple lives after his tragic demise.<p>The Health and Family Welfare department, led by Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao took the decision to give appreciation and respect to donors and their families. An order was passed on March 1, 2024, and the families of cadaver organ donors are being awarded during Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.</p><p>The order aims to encourage donation of life saving organs, to meet the shortage of human organs required to save the lives of individuals suffering from end-stage organ failure. </p><p><strong>Long waiting list</strong></p><p>Notably, patients seeking organs see a huge waiting list. The concerning numbers point out registered patients' wait for 4,616 kidneys, 590 livers, 138 hearts, 34 lungs, 13 heart and lungs, 23 liver and kidney, 22 kidney and pancreas and one kidney and heart in Karnataka. </p><p>This year alone, though eight people were eligible for cadaver organ donation, their families did not permit it.</p><p><strong>Donors from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Udupi and more</strong></p><p>On Friday, families of 27 donors in Bengaluru Urban, nine in Tumakuru, seven in Hassan, six each in Kolar and Bengaluru Rural, five each in Mysuru, Udupi, Ramanagara, three each in Ballari, Davanagere, two each in Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Dharwad, Gadag, Mandya, Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada and one each in Vijayapura, Chitradurga, and Haveri districts were honored. Certificates were sent to families of 25 donors in other states by registered post. </p><p>Dr D P Arun Kumar, programme officer, Jeevasarthakathe or SOTTO (State Organ Tissue and Transplant Organisation) of Health and Family Welfare department, which promotes organ donation and coordinates brain-dead donor transplantation in Karnataka shared the information.</p>.Lab for blood testing related to organ donation to come up at Wenlock Hospital: Dinesh Gundu Rao.<p>This year, from January so far, families of a total of 129 brain dead persons have donated a total 361 organs (including 206 kidneys, 110 liver, 29 hearts, 15 lungs, one small bowel); five multi organs (including two pairs of heart and lungs, kidney and pancreas, and liver and kidney); 266 tissues including (194 corneas, 48 heart valves and 24 skin). </p><p>They were retrieved in 28 Non Transplant Human Organ Retrieval Centres, and transplanted in 82 Organ transplant centres in Karnataka, recognised by the government. </p><p>SOTTO is witnessing a significant increase in the number of donors. There were 68 in 2017; 89 in 2018; 105 in 2019; 35 in 2020; 70 in 2021; 151 in 2022; 178 in 2023; and 162 in 2024. </p><p><strong>Pledge for organ donation</strong></p><p>Meanwhile, Karnataka has the third highest number of 45,856 people in the country who have pledged to donate organs, with the highest pledges of 11,550 in Dharwad, third highest of 3,087 people in Bengaluru and 12th highest by 711 people in Mysuru.</p><p>One organ donor can save eight lives. A heart, two kidneys, liver, pancreas, small intestine, and lungs can be donated. The same donor can save more than 50 lives through tissue donation. Tissues that can be donated include skin, bones, ligaments, heart valves, and eyes/cornea. There is no age limit for organ donation, according to Health officials. </p><p>An individual can pledge for organ donation while alive, through the Jeevasarthakathe/SOTTO QR code/National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation(NOTTO) QR code at respective web portals. </p>
<p>Mysuru: The Karnataka government honoured the families of 118 cadaver organ donors across Karnataka on Friday. They were presented with certificates of appreciation, signed by the Chief Minister and Health Minister during the Independence Day celebrations in their respective district. It was aimed at recognising the donors' noble gesture and encouraging others towards organ donation.</p><p>It was an emotional yet a moment of pride for Renukamma and G R Ningaraju, parents of 30-year-old G N Harish of Gayanahalli of KR Nagar taluk, Mysuru district, and the families of such 117 other cadaver organ donors in the state. </p><p>These families donated the organs earlier in 2025 after their dear ones were declared brain dead, witnessed a fatal accident, or due to similar reasons. Their decisions to donate helped saving the lives of patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. </p>.Bengaluru engineer’s organ donation saves multiple lives after his tragic demise.<p>The Health and Family Welfare department, led by Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao took the decision to give appreciation and respect to donors and their families. An order was passed on March 1, 2024, and the families of cadaver organ donors are being awarded during Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.</p><p>The order aims to encourage donation of life saving organs, to meet the shortage of human organs required to save the lives of individuals suffering from end-stage organ failure. </p><p><strong>Long waiting list</strong></p><p>Notably, patients seeking organs see a huge waiting list. The concerning numbers point out registered patients' wait for 4,616 kidneys, 590 livers, 138 hearts, 34 lungs, 13 heart and lungs, 23 liver and kidney, 22 kidney and pancreas and one kidney and heart in Karnataka. </p><p>This year alone, though eight people were eligible for cadaver organ donation, their families did not permit it.</p><p><strong>Donors from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Udupi and more</strong></p><p>On Friday, families of 27 donors in Bengaluru Urban, nine in Tumakuru, seven in Hassan, six each in Kolar and Bengaluru Rural, five each in Mysuru, Udupi, Ramanagara, three each in Ballari, Davanagere, two each in Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Dharwad, Gadag, Mandya, Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada and one each in Vijayapura, Chitradurga, and Haveri districts were honored. Certificates were sent to families of 25 donors in other states by registered post. </p><p>Dr D P Arun Kumar, programme officer, Jeevasarthakathe or SOTTO (State Organ Tissue and Transplant Organisation) of Health and Family Welfare department, which promotes organ donation and coordinates brain-dead donor transplantation in Karnataka shared the information.</p>.Lab for blood testing related to organ donation to come up at Wenlock Hospital: Dinesh Gundu Rao.<p>This year, from January so far, families of a total of 129 brain dead persons have donated a total 361 organs (including 206 kidneys, 110 liver, 29 hearts, 15 lungs, one small bowel); five multi organs (including two pairs of heart and lungs, kidney and pancreas, and liver and kidney); 266 tissues including (194 corneas, 48 heart valves and 24 skin). </p><p>They were retrieved in 28 Non Transplant Human Organ Retrieval Centres, and transplanted in 82 Organ transplant centres in Karnataka, recognised by the government. </p><p>SOTTO is witnessing a significant increase in the number of donors. There were 68 in 2017; 89 in 2018; 105 in 2019; 35 in 2020; 70 in 2021; 151 in 2022; 178 in 2023; and 162 in 2024. </p><p><strong>Pledge for organ donation</strong></p><p>Meanwhile, Karnataka has the third highest number of 45,856 people in the country who have pledged to donate organs, with the highest pledges of 11,550 in Dharwad, third highest of 3,087 people in Bengaluru and 12th highest by 711 people in Mysuru.</p><p>One organ donor can save eight lives. A heart, two kidneys, liver, pancreas, small intestine, and lungs can be donated. The same donor can save more than 50 lives through tissue donation. Tissues that can be donated include skin, bones, ligaments, heart valves, and eyes/cornea. There is no age limit for organ donation, according to Health officials. </p><p>An individual can pledge for organ donation while alive, through the Jeevasarthakathe/SOTTO QR code/National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation(NOTTO) QR code at respective web portals. </p>