A Blood Donation Camp was organized in Faridabad (Haryana) by the local Branch of the Sant Nirankari Mission, on Sunday, August 30, 2009.  As many as 235 devotees of the Mission donated their blood.  Earlier,  the Branch organized one such  camp in Ballabhgarh on May 5 and another at Palwal on August 16, where the blood collecting teams collected 52 and 66 units of blood, respectively.

The blood collecting teams came from the Indian Red Cross Society, Delhi and the local B.K. Hospital.  Special care was taken to ensure hygienic atmosphere and pre-donation tests.  Snacks etc. were served to the donors by the Branch.

Rev Kirpa Sagar, Member Incharge Press and Publicity, Publications and Internet, who presided over the congregation on this occasion said that the donation of blood has already become a convention with the Sant Nirankari Mission.  Devotees are donating their blood as a part of their devotion.  While they express their gratitude towards Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji, who laid down his life for truth, love, peace and unity, they also manifest their faith in Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj who proclaimed that 'Blood should flow in veins and not in drains.'  It is also an expression to their devotion to God in terms of selfless service to His creation i.e., mankind.

Rev Kirpa Sagar said that this convention was laid down in 1986 followed by a decision by the Special General Body Meeting of the Sant Nirankari Mandal in 1987 to organize Blood Donation Camps throughout the country as a part of the Manav Ekta Divas on April 24, the day Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji laid down his life in 1980.  Ever since the number of these camps has been increasing with more and more devotees coming forward to participate.   Initially these camps were organized in April only.  From 1997 they were staggered to cover the entire summer season up to September.  From last year they are being held almost round the year.  Rev Kirpa Sagar pointed out that the Mission organized 173 Blood Donation Camps in India in 2008, while the target this year is 293 Camps.   Of these, more than 200 camps have already been organized.

Rev A.S. Chowdhry, Pramukh Faridabad thanked the donors in general and the VIPs who came and encouraged them in particular.  The local Councillors  Shri Pravesh Mehta and Smt. Renu Bhatia and Shri J.N. Gahlot, Secretary Red Cross Society, Faridabad were among the VIPs who visited the camp.

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