Nawanshahr’s Blood Donors Council: Four decades of lifesaving service

In a quiet corner of Nawanshahr, a remarkable journey of community service continues to thrive - driven by the vision of a few dedicated individuals united in a mission to provide safe, voluntary blood donations to those in need.

The Blood Donors Council (BDC) blood centre began its journey nearly 40 years ago, in response to the rising commercialisation of blood and the absence of proper donation facilities. The initiative was spearheaded by Gurinder Singh Toor, an agriculturist and Pandit Pushp Raj Kalia, a chemist, joined by local stalwarts SK Sareen, JS Gidda, Parvesh Kumar, and Dr Vishan Mohini. Together, they worked to establish a blood bank in Nawanshahr, then part of Jalandhar district, where no public-sector blood facility existed.

The foundation stone of the blood centre was laid on January 14, 1991, by Dr Kanta Saroop Krishan, then Professor and Head of Blood Transfusion and Immunohematology at PGI Chandigarh. The facility—Khoon Daan Bhawan, or blood donation hall—was later inaugurated on April 13, 1992, by Bhagat Puran Singh Ji of Pingalwara, Amritsar, a revered humanitarian.

Since its inception, the centre has emerged as a beacon of hope, backed by 142 life members and 333 active motivators. To date, it has organised 1,841 voluntary blood donation camps across rural and urban areas, collecting and distributing around 500 units of blood every month, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion.

The centre primarily supports patients suffering from thalassemia, cancer and kidney failure. Notably, it waives testing charges for thalassemia patients and provides subsidised rates for others in need. The facility is currently operated by a 36-member team under the leadership of Blood Transfusion Officer Dr Ajay Bagga, a centurion blood donor and former Civil Surgeon, alongside former Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Dyal Saroop.

Dr Bagga told The Tribune, "BDC Blood Centre is providing best-in-class blood-related services while maintaining the highest standards. The fact that blood from our centre is accepted by PGI Chandigarh is a testament to our quality."

While the centre has earned widespread respect, founder president Gurinder Singh Toor expressed concern over unethical practices that still plague the sector. "Despite laws in place, the system is being challenged by unethical blood trade. We need leaders like HD Shori, the former ICS officer who helped implement the blood bank licensing system, to rise again and uphold integrity," he said.

As a tribute to its supporters, the Khoon Daan Bhawan offers donors an opportunity to display photographs of loved ones in the Bhatti Memorial Hall for a contribution of Rs 1 lakh. To date, 56 photographs are displayed - a solemn recognition of those who have supported the noble cause of voluntary blood donation.

Prof JS Gidda, Secretary of BDC, reflected on the institution's impact: "This blood centre is more than a place to donate. It's a lifeline for many. It's about saving lives, one drop at a time."

Camp marks Voluntary Blood Donation Day

To mark National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, a blood donation camp was organised at the Blood Bank, Guru Hargobind Nagar, Phagwara, under the guidance of the Central Health and Family Welfare Department and the Punjab State Blood Transfusion Council.

The camp was inaugurated by MP Singh, General Secretary of the Indian Society for Blood Transfusion and Amino Hematology, Punjab, who also led by example by donating blood himself.

Malkeet Singh Raghbhotra, president of the blood bank, shared that the camp was dedicated to the birth anniversary of JG Jolly, known as the father of transfusion medicine in India. The initiative aimed to motivate eligible individuals, especially the youth, to participate in voluntary blood donation.

A total of 23 young donors took part in the camp, donating blood and pledging continued support to similar humanitarian efforts in the future. Dr MP Singh addressed the participants, emphasising the life-saving impact of blood donation and providing detailed insights into its medical significance.

At the conclusion of the event, Raghbhotra expressed sincere gratitude to all collaborators and the blood bank staff for their contributions to the success of the camp. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to the donors and refreshments were arranged for all participants.