For the K.P. Govindakutty Smaraka Vayanasala at Cherukulathur, every activity is a matter of outdoing itself. The library had played a major role in the evolution of the village into one with the highest number of voluntary organ donors in the State five years ago.
Much before that, it was officially declared as the village with the maximum number of people who were willing to donate their eyes. With the library planning its golden jubilee celebrations, the village in Peruvayal grama panchayat of Kozhikode district is waiting for the next milestone.
Founded in 1967 and named after freedom fighter K.P. Govindankutty, the library, now with more than 500 members and 12,000 books, has played a significant role in transforming the village. Its first milestone was in 1980 when it brought out a directory of blood groups of its residents. The directory turned out to be a big hit and the last solace for several people, especially those undergoing treatment at the nearby Government Medical College.
Moreover, volunteers of the library had coordinated with the Medical College authorities in several eye donation awareness sessions since 1986. However, it was in 2003 that the village expressed willingness to donate around 1,600 eyes.
The enormous efforts taken by the volunteers to create awareness on eye donation in the village set the stage for future interventions that led to 2,600 people above the age of 18 expressing willingness in 2013 to donate their organs.
“Organ donation has now become a culture in our village. Every person who turns 18 comes forward to donate organs,” said Chandrasekharan T.M., secretary of the library.
Since 2003, the village residents have donated 165 pairs of eyes. However, there have been no brain deaths here that would end up in organ donation. As many as 17 people have offered their cadavers to the medical college, and the first of them was donated five months ago.
“Our efforts inspired several nearby villages to take up similar campaigns. Recently, around 60 people in Elathur came up to donate their organs,” Mr. Chandrasekharan said.
As for the diamond jubilee celebrations, the library is planning a fight against liquor and drug addiction in the village. “This is a much difficult task compared to what we have done so far. But there is a weight of expectation on us considering the track record. We need to succeed in this mission,” he added.
