Few reasons for missing work can be more socially valuable. Though many of them may not know it, Central government employees can take the day off from work if they donate blood.
Every year, the lives of multitudes of patients are endangered because of shortage of blood donors. A report prepared by the World Health Organisation in 2012 said that India collects 90 lakh units of blood annually, whereas it needs 1.2 crore units. In Delhi alone, the shortfall is one lakh units per year.
The shortfall could easily be plugged if Central government employees start taking advantage of a nearly 60-year-old scheme. The leave policy of the Ministry of Personnel, which is offered as an incentive, says that employees who donate blood at a recognised blood bank can take the rest of the day off from work. The leave gets counted as a special case casual leave.
As per 2011 Census, there are 31.16 lakh Central government employees. So, if they pitch in, their donations could bridge the shortfall of blood in the country.
“The shelf life of donated blood is 35 to 42 days,” Anju Verma, chief medical officer of the Rotary Blood Bank, was quoted as saying by The Times of India. “There is a constant need to replenish stocks in our blood banks. The problem could be addressed if just 2% more Indians donate blood.”
Right path
The Centre’s push to increase blood donation has been adopted by many state departments. In 2012, Uttar Pradesh offered special half-day leave to employees of semi-government organisations who donate blood on the days fixed by the government.
In 2002 when the government chalked out a National Blood Policy to counter the shortfall of blood for rising cases of HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases. Voluntary unpaid donors are crucial to battle the shortage. According to a World Bank report, the country is on the right track plugging the gap. “India reported the greatest increase in voluntary unpaid blood donations from 3.6 million in 2007 to 4.6 million in 2008,” the report said.
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Every year, the lives of multitudes of patients are endangered because of shortage of blood donors. A report prepared by the World Health Organisation in 2012 said that India collects 90 lakh units of blood annually, whereas it needs 1.2 crore units. In Delhi alone, the shortfall is one lakh units per year.
The shortfall could easily be plugged if Central government employees start taking advantage of a nearly 60-year-old scheme. The leave policy of the Ministry of Personnel, which is offered as an incentive, says that employees who donate blood at a recognised blood bank can take the rest of the day off from work. The leave gets counted as a special case casual leave.
As per 2011 Census, there are 31.16 lakh Central government employees. So, if they pitch in, their donations could bridge the shortfall of blood in the country.
“The shelf life of donated blood is 35 to 42 days,” Anju Verma, chief medical officer of the Rotary Blood Bank, was quoted as saying by The Times of India. “There is a constant need to replenish stocks in our blood banks. The problem could be addressed if just 2% more Indians donate blood.”
Right path
The Centre’s push to increase blood donation has been adopted by many state departments. In 2012, Uttar Pradesh offered special half-day leave to employees of semi-government organisations who donate blood on the days fixed by the government.
In 2002 when the government chalked out a National Blood Policy to counter the shortfall of blood for rising cases of HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases. Voluntary unpaid donors are crucial to battle the shortage. According to a World Bank report, the country is on the right track plugging the gap. “India reported the greatest increase in voluntary unpaid blood donations from 3.6 million in 2007 to 4.6 million in 2008,” the report said.
