The Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today inaugurated the National Organ Transplant Games 2026 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi.
Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the National Organ Transplant Games 2026 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi today. The Vice-President paid his deepest respects to deceased organ donors and their families, whose selfless decisions give others a second chance at life. He described the Games as a celebration of courage, determination, compassion and the precious gift of life. Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; and other dignitaries were present during the occasion. @mpprataprao @BansuriSwaraj @MoHFW_INDIA
Addressing the gathering, the Vice-President described the Games as a celebration of courage, determination, compassion and the precious gift of life. He congratulated the Renal Care Foundation, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for this important initiative. Highlighting India’s civilisational ethos of selfless service, the Vice-President recalled the sacrifice of Maharshi Dadhichi as a timeless symbol of giving for the greater good. He described organ donation as a ‘Mahadaan’, through which hope can endure even in the face of loss. The Vice-President noted that the organ donation movement in India has received significant impetus from the consistent emphasis placed on the subject by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi through his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ addresses. Describing the Games as much more than a sporting event, the Vice-President said they celebrate the resilience of transplant recipients and demonstrate the life-transforming power of modern medicine. He commended the participants for their courage, discipline and sporting spirit, noting that their achievements inspire hope among those awaiting transplantation. The Vice-President paid his deepest respects to deceased organ donors and their families, whose selfless decisions give others a second chance at life. He also appreciated living donors for exemplifying the finest values of love and compassion. He emphasised that one deceased organ donor can save up to eight lives. Calling for greater awareness about organ donation, the Vice-President stressed the need to dispel myths and misconceptions, encourage informed decisions and motivate people to share their wishes with their families. He said the National Organ Transplant Games provide an exceptional platform to advance this mission by bringing together transplant recipients, donors, healthcare professionals and their families. During the programme, the Vice-President released the ‘Zindagi Dobara’ Calendar and felicitated medal winners of the World Transplant Games 2025, held in Dresden, Germany. He also witnessed an attempt at a world record featuring 570 transplant recipients and donors performing Tadasana together. Following the successful attempt, the organisers were presented with a certificate by the World Book of Records, New Delhi, for the “Largest congregation of Transplant recipients and donors performing Tadasana”. The Vice-President joined the gathering in taking the Organ Donation Pledge and witnessed exhibition matches in Kabaddi, Table Tennis and Badminton. Concluding his address, the Vice-President called upon everyone to make organ donation a powerful expression of shared humanity and to work towards a society where more patients receive transplants and fewer lives are lost waiting for organs. The programme was attended by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Dr. D. S. Rana, Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Trust Society and Chief Patron, NOTG 2026; Dr. A. K. Bhalla, Organising Chairman, NOTG 2026; and Dr. Anil Kumar, Director, NOTTO, among other dignitaries.