Pune: Autorickshaw drivers in the city pledged to donate organs by signing up digital organ donation forms on the occasion of World Organ Day recently.

“The main objective of the initiative was to create awareness about organ donation and help citizens join the noble cause of saving precious lives. In view of the social cause, all auto drivers will be promoting themselves as ‘Rickshachalak Avayavdata’ (autorickshaw driver organ donors),” said Dr Baba Adhav, President of the Angmehnati Kashtkari Panchayat, Riksha Panchayat, Hamaal Panchayat and Pathari Panchayat.

The pledge-taking took place at the Riksha Panchayat office, Lakud Bazaar and was inaugurated by Dr Adhav. Riksha Panchayat Cooperative Society Vice-President Ravsaheb Kadam, Mukund Kakade, Dr Anuradha Potdar, Dr Pravin Surwade, Noble Abraham from NCORD Health Card LLP, Riksha Panchayat Sanstha Director, Raghunath Shinde, Karim Sayyed, Waghmare, Nandu Velankar, Aanand Belamkar, Sopan Ghogare and Siddharth Chavan were present for the event.

All participating auto drivers downloaded eHealthApp on their smartphones to fill the organ donation form and submit online with the help of NCORD coordinators. The auto-drivers went a step ahead by applying a sticker depicting ‘Avayadata’ inside their vehicles.

The organ donation awareness drive initiated by NCORD, in association with the Riksha Panchayat, started on August 9 and will continue till August 19. All the members of Riksha Panchayat will be participating in the event during the period and almost 5,000 members associated with the group will work as organ donation ambassadors.

The auto drivers will themselves talk to passengers about the importance of organ donation and share the printed leaflets and organ donation forms with them. NCORD will be providing free access to eHealthApp to all auto drivers participating in the noble cause.