Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, along with his wife Mrs. Sunita Dwivedi, President of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), pledged to donate their organs at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) on August 20.
The move has given a significant boost to the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority (AORTA), which has been spearheading awareness about organ donation within the defence community.
Under the leadership of Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services, AORTA has emerged as a national leader in organ retrieval and transplantation initiatives. The Indian Army has already set a national benchmark with over 26,000 personnel pledging their organs in a single campaign, making it the largest such drive in India.
Speaking at the ceremony, General Dwivedi described organ donation as a “noble service to humanity” and urged soldiers and their families to lead by example, inspiring society at large to embrace the cause.
The Army Chief also praised AORTA’s consistent efforts in awareness-building and honoured donor families for their courage and compassion in giving the gift of life to others. In a unique gesture, General Dwivedi presented Chief’s Recommendation Cards to three frontline staff involved in transplant care, including a housekeeper, highlighting the critical role of healthcare workers in the success of such humanitarian missions.
The event reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ ethos of sacrifice, service, and courage, while reinforcing their resolve to lead the nation in advancing organ donation as a vital humanitarian cause.
