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Bodo groups extend blood bonds beyond kinship

By Correspondent

BONGAIGAON, April 24 - To spread the message of non-violence and show philanthropic zeal, volunteers of groups belonging to the Bodo community today donated blood in Chirang district.

In total, 65 volunteers, including 6 women from All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU), National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive) and People�s Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement (PJACBM) donated 65 units (350 ml x 65) of blood each at a camp which was organised at the ABSU office at Kajalgaon in Chirang district.

Members of Voluntary Blood Donors� Association, Jharkhand and The Action Northeast Trust (The ANT) assisted the Bodo groups in this mission. Bongaigaon Civil Hospital�s Blood Bank staff offered technical support during the blood donation drive.

�Teachers and parents do share wisdom with us, but do not encourage us to donate blood, the act which is above all religion and faith�, said the Association�s president Sunil Mukherjee, who has donated blood 92 times till date.

According to blood bank counsellor Sahidul Islam, the collected blood will undergo five mandatory (HIV, Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) tests before its final use.

Significantly, many volunteers in the camp today were dissuaded from donating blood as they were below 18 years of age, Islam informed.

Dr Minakshi Kalita of Bongaigaon Civil Hospital assisted the womenfolk as well as other volunteers to donate blood.

�With this act of ours, we feel we have been able to extend kinship beyond blood bonds, said Chirang district ABSU president Phanin Boro. The blood donation drive began from Sunday at Kokrajhar, and we will continue it in the four districts of BTAD with an objective to meet the collection target of 10,000 units within one year,� he added.

It may be pertinent to add here that a sticker pasted on each blood bag read: From Bodos/ With Love/Live & Let Live.

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