SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 3,066 organ and tissue donor pledges, with young adults emerging as the driving force behind the growing awareness campaign, even as India crossed the landmark of five lakh registered organ and tissue donors.
Official data show that Jammu district alone accounts for 1,436 registrations, nearly 47 per cent of all pledges in the Union Territory, making it the clear leader in organ and tissue donation awareness. Kathua has recorded 354 registrations, followed by Rajouri (200), Doda (148), Udhampur (141), Poonch and Samba (106 each), Baramulla (97), Reasi (87), Kupwara (71), Anantnag (55) and Srinagar (48), while the remaining registrations have come from other districts.
The figures reveal that the 18-30 years age group has contributed the largest share of donor pledges, followed by people aged 30-45 years. Registrations decline in the 45-60 years category, while senior citizens account for the fewest pledges, indicating that awareness campaigns have found the strongest response among younger people.
The data also show a gender gap, with men accounting for the majority of registered donors, while women constitute nearly one-third of the total registrations. Most people have chosen to pledge both organs and tissues, while comparatively fewer have opted to donate only organs or only tissues.
Among the organs pledged, the liver has emerged as the most commonly pledged organ with 2,170 registrations, followed by the heart (2,081), lungs (1,974), pancreas (1,887), intestine (1,860) and kidney (649).
Among tissues, blood vessels top the list with 1,824 pledges, followed by bone (1,793), skin (1,779), cartilage (1,707), cornea (603) and heart valve (528).
Health officials attribute the steady increase in registrations to sustained awareness campaigns conducted by the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), J&K. Through workshops, public outreach programmes, educational institutions and organ donation drives, the organisation has been encouraging people, particularly young adults, to pledge their organs and tissues while addressing myths and misconceptions surrounding organ donation.
The latest figures come as India’s organ donation movement reaches a significant milestone, with more than five lakh people nationwide registering as organ and tissue donors. Maharashtra leads the country with 1,16,690 registrations, followed by Rajasthan with 92,641, while the Union Territories of Ladakh and Lakshadweep have recorded the lowest numbers, with 39 and 11 registrations, respectively.
