Nagaland University’s Kohima Campus hosted a workshop on deceased organ donation, organized by Zublee Foundation in collaboration with the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) under its initiative VARDAAN (Chapter IV) on February 20.
According to PRO Nagaland University Peter Ki, this Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of NEDFi was launched on February 13, 2024 and spans across the Northeast, with its last phase in Nagaland.
The workshop was aimed at educating attendees, debunking misconceptions, and sparking crucial discussions about organ donation. With awareness in its early stages in the state, these sessions held across Dimapur and Kohima were important steps toward bridging knowledge gaps and fostering broader acceptance of this life-saving practice.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University Prof. G.T. Thong expressed his enthusiasm, noting that this was the first time Nagaland University had hosted such a programme. Prof. Thong actively engaged in the discussions and encouraged faculty and students to take part in the movement.
Having been deeply inspired by the initiative, he said he was keen on taking it forward within the university by integrating awareness efforts into the academic environment and supporting student-led outreach programmes.
Faculty members acknowledged the session’s value in enhancing their understanding and clearing myths surrounding organ donation. Many expressed interests in furthering the initiative by driving mass awareness through student-led efforts.
CEO of Zublee Foundation, Priyanka Borah, described the implementation of Project VARDAAN in Nagaland’s premier institutions as a “significant milestone,” marking the first large-scale grassroots workshops on the subject in the state.
She emphasized the enthusiastic response from students and faculty, demonstrating growing interest and commitment to the cause. The workshop was coordinated by assistant professor, Department of Management, Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bordoloi. While the welcome address was delivered by Head of the Department of Management, Prof. Kh. Devananda Singh, the vote of thanks was proposed by associate professor, Department of Commerce, Dr. Jasojit Debnath.
The team including Diksha Kashyap (Project Coordinator – Office Head) and Dharitri Nath (Field Coordinator) have plans for follow-up activities across participating institutions to sustain momentum and increase awareness over the next three months.
The initiative marks a pivotal moment in Nagaland’s healthcare landscape, bringing the state closer to embracing organ donation as a vital, life-saving practice.