In a heartfelt and candid address, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta shared that she and her husband pledged to donate their organs as far back as sixteen years ago, calling on citizens to come forward and break the silence around organ donation.

Speaking at the inaugural Vardaan International Film Festival organised by Dadhichi Dehdaan Samiti at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in East Delhi, the Chief Minister struck a personal note while highlighting the importance of awareness and social responsibility. “I filled the organ donation form with my husband sixteen years ago,” she said, urging people to see organ donation as a life-saving pledge rather than a taboo topic.

Citing official data, Gupta noted that 838 individuals have pledged to donate organs, as recorded by the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTO), but stressed that the number needs to grow significantly given the country’s urgent needs. Addressing deep-rooted myths, she pointed out that many in society still believe misconceptions such as being born blind in the next life if one donates eyes after death.

“These myths have no scientific basis and only prevent people from making a noble decision,” she said.

Drawing attention to the larger crisis, the Chief Minister highlighted that nearly five lakh patients in India are currently waiting for organ transplants. She emphasised that mass awareness campaigns are crucial to bridge the widening gap between organ demand and availability.

Praising the sustained efforts of Dadhichi Dehdaan Samiti, Gupta said organisations working at the grassroots level are playing a key role in changing mindsets and encouraging citizens to pledge organ and body donation for the greater good.