AGARTALA, October 31 (TIWN): Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today admitted that the womenfolk couldn’t be properly involved in the state’s voluntary blood donation movement.

Addressing in the celebration ceremony of national voluntary blood donation day 2014 organized by health and family welfare department, government of Tripura at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan this morning, Chief Minister Sarkar said that number of women involved in blood donation is less than the number of men in the state. He urged the women to come forward in the practice.

The Chief Minister criticized the role of the Department of Health and Family Welfare and said that the authorities should look into the possibilities of deficiency in sensitization among the womenfolk. “The health department authorities and all other stakeholders should take stock of the issue and work on it”, he said. The day is celebrated every year to share the need and importance of the blood in the life of an individual, he added.

Sarkar further said that the state has earned a very important position in the country when it comes to blood collection through voluntary blood donation camps. There is no alternative of blood.

Of the total requirement of blood during the current financial year (2013-14), 99% was collected through voluntary donation. With the end of the year (financial year) in March, it would be 100%, he added. Saying that the voluntary blood donation movement became a festival in Tripura, the CM urged young people to generously donate blood to save lives.

In the ceremony Manik Sarkar facilitated two family for their continues participation in voluntary blood donation during the last ten years.

Minister for Health Badal Chaudhury, Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department m. Nagaraju, Director of Family Welfare and Preventive Medicine Dr. K. L. Bhowmik and other officials were present in the celebration ceremony.