On June 30, 2026, the Division of Organ Transplant, AIIMS Rishikesh, in collaboration with the Rishikesh Eye Bank, AIIMS Rishikesh, and MOHAN Foundation, conducted an organ and corneal donation awareness session in the Urology OPD waiting area at AIIMS Rishikesh.

The session was facilitated by Mr. Mahipal Chouhan, Eye Bank Manager, Rishikesh Eye Bank, AIIMS Rishikesh; Mr. Arun Sharma, Program Executive, MOHAN Foundation, Uttarakhand and Mr. Alok, Technician, Rishikesh Eye Bank, AIIMS Rishikesh. The programme was attended by patients, patient attendants, resident doctors, nursing officers, and support staff, including bearers and housekeeping personnel from the Department of Urology.

Mr. Arun Sharma commenced the session by introducing MOHAN Foundation and highlighting its mission and ongoing initiatives in the field of organ donation and transplantation. Through an interactive talk, he explained the importance of organ donation, eligibility criteria for donors, living and deceased donation, organ donation during life and after death, brain death and its distinction from coma, eye and skin donation, provisions under the Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, living kidney transplantation facilities at AIIMS Rishikesh, common myths and facts related to organ donation, and the Anudaan initiative. He concluded the session by emphasizing the urgent need for organ donation in India and encouraged participants to discuss their donation wishes with their families and inspire others to support the cause.

Mr. Alok then introduced the Rishikesh Eye Bank and highlighted the importance of corneal donation in restoring sight to individuals affected by corneal blindness. He explained the process of eye donation, the role of the eye bank in corneal retrieval and transplantation, and the significance of timely eye donation after death.

The session concluded with an address by Mr. Mahipal Chouhan, who elaborated further on corneal donation, donor eligibility, causes of corneal blindness, and the importance of increasing public awareness to meet the growing demand for donor corneas. Participants actively interacted with the speakers and sought clarification on various aspects of organ and eye donation.

Participants appreciated the efforts of AIIMS Rishikesh and MOHAN Foundation in promoting organ and corneal donation and expressed their willingness to continue discussions on the subject within their families and communities.

Approximately 45 individuals attended the session. Notably, two participants pledged to donate their organs during the programme.