Nagaland University’s Kohima Campus hosted a Workshop on Deceased Organ donation on February 20, 2025. The workshop was organized by Zublee Foundation in collaboration with the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative VARDAAN (Chapter IV). This initiative of NEDFi was launched on February 13, 2024 and spans across the Northeast, with its last phase at Nagaland, NU PRO, Peter Ki stated in a press release.
The workshop was aimed at educating attendees, debunking misconceptions, and sparking crucial discussions about organ donation. With awareness in its early stages in the state, these sessions held across Dimapur and Kohima were important steps toward bridging knowledge gaps and fostering broader acceptance of this life-saving practice.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University Prof. G.T. Thong expressed his enthusiasm, noting that this was the first time Nagaland University had hosted such a program. Prof. Thong actively engaged in the discussions and encouraged faculty and students to take part in the movement. Having been deeply inspired by the initiative, he said he was keen on taking it forward within the university by integrating awareness efforts into the academic environment and supporting student-led outreach programs. Faculty members acknowledged the session’s value in enhancing their understanding and clearing myths surrounding organ donation. Many expressed interests in furthering the initiative by driving mass awareness through student-led efforts.
Priyanka Borah, CEO of Zublee Foundation, described the implementation of Project VARDAAN in Nagaland’s premier institutions as a “significant milestone,” marking the first large-scale grassroots workshops on the subject in the state. She emphasized the enthusiastic response from students and faculty, demonstrating growing interest and commitment to the cause.
The workshop was coordinated by Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bordoloi, Assistant Professor, Department of Management. While the welcome address was delivered by Prof. Kh. Devananda Singh, Head of the Department of Management, the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Jasojit Debnath, Associate Professor, Department of Commerce.
NU PRO has said that the team including Diksha Kashyap (Project Coordinator – Office Head) and Dharitri Nath (Field Coordinator) has plans for follow-up activities across participating institutions to sustain momentum and increase awareness over the next three months.
The initiative marks a pivotal moment in Nagaland’s healthcare landscape, bringing the state closer to embracing organ donation as a vital, life-saving practice. By promoting informed discussions and encouraging community participation, Zublee Foundation and NEDFi’s initiative VARDAAN plays a vital role in spreading awareness about deceased organ donation, the press release stated.
