Telangana’s Mucherla village is the leader in organ donation, having received more than 70 eye donations

In a country where organ donation rates are among the lowest globally, Mucherla stands as a beacon of hope and unity. Despite India having fewer than one organ donation per million people, the village’s 500 residents have all pledged to donate their eyes after death, creating a powerful tradition.

This movement, which began several years ago, has gained significant momentum. About 70 villagers have already donated their eyes, thanks to the efforts of Mandala Ravinder, a divisional engineer in the irrigation department and a native of Mucherla. Ravinder initiated the cause over a decade ago by vowing to donate his mother’s eyes, believing firmly that organs should not be wasted after death. In 2019, Ravinder donated his father’s organs and has since been inspiring others in the village to follow suit.

“I believe that organs should not go to waste after death. I pledged to donate my organs and donated my father’s organs in 2019. I encouraged others to do the same, hoping to help those in need and foster positive change,” Ravinder said in an interview with TOI.

His efforts have had a ripple effect. Villager Malla Reddy explained, “We contact Ravinder sir when a death occurs in the family. He coordinates with the doctors to ensure the necessary steps are taken. He’s our go-to person.”

The initiative has brought the community closer, as many families share the belief that they can continue contributing even after death. What began as a few individual pledges has evolved into a widespread movement. The impact has extended to neighboring villages, with at least 20 individuals from surrounding areas committing to donate their eyes to the LV Prasad Eye Institute.

Mucherla has also put in place a well-organized system to handle these donations. Detailed records are kept, and coordination with hospitals in the district ensures a swift response when donations are needed. B Sujatha, a villager who donated her mother’s eyes, shared her pride in contributing to reducing visual impairment.

“We donated my mother’s eyes, and I feel immense pride in knowing that we’ve helped reduce visual impairment in society,” Sujatha said. “Our village’s commitment to organ donation has become a model that continues to inspire change.”

The village’s efforts were recently recognized when Mucherla was awarded the ‘Excellence in Eye Donation’ award by the Governor. This honor acknowledges their dedication and the impact they’ve had in raising awareness about the importance of organ donation.