Green heart licences for drivers in Karnataka

On Monday, Karnataka became the first state to introduce ‘Green Heart Driving’ licences in collaboration with the Transport Department and Gift Your Organ Foundation.

Starting Tuesday, all the Regional Transport Offices in the state will give people enrolling for driving licences, a form, encouraging them to donate their organs.

Every year, 1.5 lakh people wait for kidney transplant in the country. Of which, only 5,000 get a transplant and only 200 of these, get kidneys through donations from the deceased. Over 2 lakh people die of liver disease, 50,000 from heart disease and 10 lakh suffer from corneal blindness and await transplant.

“While there are enough medical facilities in the state to conduct successful organ transplants, the lack of organs is becoming a troubling factor,” pointed out Director of NIMHANS  Satish Chandra at the event.

The first ‘Green Heart Drivers’ licence was unveiled by Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok. “I have already pledged my eyes and I think it is about time people in the state wake up to the need of donating their organs. Their noble gesture could save a life,” said Ashok, stressing how many lives are lost in accidents.

Founder of Gift Your Organ Foundation Samir Dua said although the pilot project (funded by Biocon) is being launched at the Electronics City RTO office, all the other RTOs will soon get the forms.

“People often carry their driving licence in their wallet. At the time of accidents, the ambulance doctor usually checks the victim’s wallet to know the person’s name. At this point they would know that he/she opted for an organ donation,” Satish Chandra said.

He added, “In a country like ours with such a huge population , if people become more aware and opt for donation, they would be saving a lot of lives. We have to borrow eyes from Sri Lanka now, because people in India are not very aware.”

The initiative will now spread across the state, to encourage more people to opt for organ donation.

However, the transport department and the Government of Karnataka has clarified that there will be no rule about this. It is a voluntary effort that people could take.