On World Blood Donor Day, Sikar stands out as a place where a shortage of blood rarely threatens a patient's life anymore. The moment word spreads that someone needs blood, the district's youngsters head straight to the blood bank. It is this culture of giving that has earned Sikar a new identity — that of a 'blood river'.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The blood bank at SK Hospital collects more than 10,000 units of blood every year. Add up the last 4 years and the youth here have already donated 41209 units. The result of this steady stream of donations is that needy patients arriving for treatment no longer have to run from place to place searching for blood.
Who Is Karan Verma
One of the faces of this movement is Karan Verma (Surajgyan), who hails from the temple town of Khatushyam Ji. He has donated blood 28 times so far. But Karan does not stop at donating himself — he also motivates others to step forward. On several occasions he has given blood during emergencies at SK Hospital, saving the lives of complete strangers. As he sees it, if donating blood can save a life, it is nothing short of an act of virtue.
A Journey That Began at 19
Karan recalls that he donated blood for the first time when he was 19. Looking back, he says that roughly 10 years ago people were afraid to donate, and very few turned up at blood donation camps. It was at a camp organised in Dantaramgarh that he gave blood for the first time, becoming the youngest donor — the first youth of his age to do so at that camp. Today he donates 2 to 3 times a year.
One Call, and the Team Arrives
Karan's awareness drive has had a ripple effect: more than 50 people have now joined him. Whenever someone needs blood in Sikar, Jaipur or the surrounding districts, this team reaches the spot to donate. To coordinate, he has created a WhatsApp group that connects the team's donors. The moment a request for blood comes in, the information is shared in the group, and one of the young members reaches the patient and donates.
A Pledge That Outlives Death
Karan Verma's commitment goes beyond blood. He has also pledged to donate his body. He took the pledge at a district-level ceremony held in Sikar under the aegis of the Medical and Health Department. Through body donation, Karan says, a person can give the gift of life to someone even after death — and it is this very thought that led him to take the step.
