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~ They Call On Patients By Day And Take Calls By Night
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: An employee of a suburban BPO firm, 23-year-old Dipesh Tank, is an anonymous face in a row of workers, furiously attending to calls through the night. However, by day, it isn’t unusual to see Dipesh and his friends hanging around at city hospitals, patiently waiting to donate blood for unknown patients.

Far removed from the stereotype of BPO workers as a money-chasing, yuppie lot, this group of Mumbai youngsters has been silently moving around despite their hectic life-style, collecting blood for ailing patients.

What started out as a group of friends lending a helping hand after the July 11 serial train blasts is today an informal network of 350 youngsters who merely call themselves ‘Youth for People’. They now plan to get registered as an NGO as they are trying to raise funds for a mobile blood donation van.

“Satisfying,’’ is how Dipesh describes his drive to donate blood for another, as he relates touching experiences. Take the case of 16-yearold Atia Mohammed who was admitted to Tata Hospital with blood cancer. “We couldn’t save her life and she died 18 months ago, but I developed a special bond with the family,’’ says Dipesh, who also raised lakhs for her treatment. Heartening, their workplace has been fuelling their enthusiasm, even arranging for a car if an employee has to go to a far-flung hospital for blood donation. As vice-president of the BPO, Sunil Nair points out, “The youth force is our strength and if we can channelize their energies for such causes, a lot of good could come up.’’ Nair’s BPO is currently planning out arrangements for a blood donation drive to mark the second anniversary of the bomb blast on July 11.

Those who can’t donate still play angel by networking. Take Aarti Dalal (31), for example who works as a trainer in another BPO. “I am unable to donate blood because of my low hemoglobin count. But If I hear about a patient, I try and convince my colleagues and allay their safety fears. Many are willing to donate but are just scared,’’ she says.

GROUP EFFORT

On Saturday, the State Blood Transfusion Council will felicitate 50 organizations that have regularly conducted blood donation camps to ensure that the the state’s blood banks are well stocked. These 50 groups account for 25% of the state’s total supply.

THE TOP FIVE CONTRIBUTORS FOR 2007 ARE:

NSS 75,000 units

Sant Nirankari Mission 13,500

Euro Foundation 10,500

Amravati Rakht Daan Samiti 9,700

Aniruddha Bapu’s followers 3,864

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