Nagarjuna pledges to donate organs

Telugu film star Nagarjuna Akkineni and a few other prominent personalities today pledged to donate organs at an event here.
The event had been organised by Yashoda Group of Hospitals in association with Jeevandan, a government institute set up to promote organ donation.
"Despite India being the world's second-most populous country, sadly it has very poor organ donation rate. Low awareness levels and superstitious beliefs are the biggest hurdles...," a release from the organisers quoted Nagarjuna as saying.
Telangana Health Minister C Laxma Reddy said there is a wide gap between number of patients who need transplants and availability of organs.

"Dr Laxma Reddy set an example to follow by announcing his own consent for organ donation," said the release.
Badminton player P V Sindhu also attended the program.
"Our objective is to promote organ donation....So we have associated with Jeevandan programme of Telangana government. I have decided to donate my body," said G Ravinder Rao, chairman of Yashoda Group of Hospitals.