Government teacher from Kothagudem saves lives through blood donation movement

J Balu, a government teacher from Kothagudem, leads the Young Indian Blood Donors Club, coordinating nationwide blood donations. With over 5,000 members, the club has donated 43,000 units and supports community service, free surgeries, and social welfare programmes

Kothagudem: Setting an example of selfless community service, a government teacher in the district has been striving to save lives through blood donation during medical emergencies.

Working as an SGT at MPPS, Penagadapa of Chunchupally mandal, J Balu, the founder president of Young Indian Blood Donors Club, is widely recognised for his blood donation initiatives. The club, operating in all States in the country, has over 5,000 active members.

---

Speaking to Telangana Today, Balu said he realised the value of blood donation when his parents needed transfusions around 15 years ago. Since his mother’s blood group was O-negative, he faced difficulty finding a donor.

He then decided to make blood donation a regular practice and to motivate others. Though he started donating blood and gathering donors individually in 2012, he launched the Young Indian Blood Donors Club on February 18, 2016, to carry out blood donation like a movement. The club members have so far donated over 43,000 units of blood.

Being a fan of Telugu film actor Chiranjeevi, Balu uses a message from the movie Stalin. Whenever a patient needs blood, he asks them to introduce three people to him, no matter what blood group they have, or to donate blood to three people.

This way, the patient’s family understands the value of blood, and they also become donors. In addition, the size of his team grows with three new donors joining. All this is coordinated through a WhatsApp group of the club, which works in partnership with similar clubs or NGOs in other States, Balu explained.

The support and encouragement of senior IPS officer VC Sajjanar has been instrumental in carrying out the club’s activities, besides the support of his family members, team members, and blood donors, he noted. Balu has also compiled a diary with contact details of blood donor clubs and NGOs across the country.

In addition to organising blood donation camps, plantation programmes, providing basic facilities in government schools, and distributing food to the poor, the Young Indian Blood Donors Club presents annual awards to individuals engaged in social service in all States. With the help of his acquaintances, Balu also arranges surgeries free of cost or at a reduced fee for the poor.