ALAPPUZHA: Anil Srivatsa, 49, is an organ donor who has been carrying on the message of organ donation by travelling to various countries by road during the last two years. The CEO of an internet radio company in Bengaluru, he donated his kidney to his elder brother, Dr Arjun Srivatsa, a consultant neurosurgeon with Columbia Asia Hospital. “I used to enlighten people on the merits of donating organs through my own example,” he told DC over phone. He started a mission ‘Million donors’ with the motto ‘Gift of life adventure’ and has covered 38 countries in central Asia and Europe in his altered SUV.
He will reach Kayamkulam on Monday as part of his maiden trip to Kerala and will proceed to Kanyakumari after a reception by the citizen forum at the Kayamkulam junction. His programme is being organised by a friend, Sreekumar, a resident of Kayamkulam. Srivatsa will also interact with the residents of Kayamkulam. His project facilitates the signing up of donors with their families. “I hope our mission will get a positive response from the people of Kerala,” he said.
Srivatsa travels with his family, including his wife and two children, and sometimes his friends. He plans to meet at least 20,000 families across India this time. “We try to remove the common misconceptions about organ donation through social media posts and interactions. The family members are made to understand and accept a person’s request to be an organ donor as family support is critical,” he said.
