HYDERABAD: At less than one per million population, India has one of the poorest organ donation rates in the world. But Mucherla in Telangana’s Hanumakonda district is known for another kind of statistic – the 500 residents of this village have all pledged to donate their eyes after death.
Over the past few years, around 70 villagers have donated their eyes.
Mandala Ravinder, a divisional engineer in the irrigation department and a resident, told TOI he took the first step a decade ago by pledging to donate his mother’s eyes. “I strongly believe organs should not go waste after death. I pledged to donate my own organs and previously donated my father’s organs in 2019. I encouraged others to follow suit, hoping it would help those in need and bring about positive change,” he said.
Mucherla organ donation success inspires villages in neighbourhood
Inspired by Ravinder, many villagers followed suit, joining the movement to donate their organs and eyes. “We inform Ravinder sir if a death occurs in the family. He, in turn, contacts the doctors, who do the needful. He is our go-to man,” said Malla Reddy, a villager. Families actively participate in the cause, with many expressing how the decision has brought them closer, reinforcing the idea that even in death, one can continue to give, and live.
The movement began several years ago when a few villagers took the first steps by pledging their eyes, and it quickly gained momentum. The success of Mucherla’s organ donation initiative has sparked a ripple effect in neighbouring villages, with at least 20 individuals pledging to donate their eyes to the LV Prasad Eye Institute after their passing. Medical professionals regularly visit the village to conduct health camps and raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
Mucherla has also set up a well-organised system, keeping detailed records of those who have pledged to donate, and coordinating with hospitals in Hanumakonda district to ensure a prompt response when needed. “We donated my mother’s eyes, and I take immense pride in our contribution to reduce visual impairment in society,” said B Sujatha, a villager. “Our community’s commitment has created a model of organ donation that continues to grow and inspire change. This achievement proves that when a community comes together with a shared purpose, we can make a meaningful difference,” she told TOI.
The village’s dedication was recently acknowledged when it received the ‘excellence in eye donation’ award from the governor.