During the blood donation camps organized to celebrate the birth anniversary of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay at various colleges of the district, more than 90% of the college students who had volunteered for the donation were rejected as they failed the prerequisites for blood donation.

Around 5000 college students had registered for blood donation and reached in encouraging number at the camps however, they were turned down as most of them were underweight and had low hemoglobin count; less than 48 Kg in weight and blood count less than 12.5 gm.

At the girls’ college, 70 had turned up out of 267 registered where all the 70 were turned down as they were found to be unfit and were not allowed to donate blood. Also, in Bhogilal Pandya College, only 73 students out of 300 registered ones could actually donate blood that included the staff too.

Officer Kamlesh Sharma informs, “The quality of health among the poor people in the tribe dominant backward district is pitiful. They do not have access to proper nutrition, quality food that is necessary for a healthy body.”

The large number of failing students in health parameters has come as a big shock to health department as well which will now undertake awareness campaign to sensitize people on nutrition aspects. The failed students have also been advised to increase nutrient content in their diet.

In the coming days, the department would distribute nutrition tablets in school-colleges to inform people of health hazards of negligence, said Dr. B.P Verma, chief medical & health officer.