For Surendra K. Jha, blood donation comes from within. No wonder he is the first person in Jharkhand to donate blood 150 times.

The 58-year-old Tata Steel employee chose World Blood Donor Day on Sunday to call upon citizens to donate blood and make the world a healthier and happier place. “I would like to request the society to come out in this Covid-19 crisis when there can be a shortage of blood. People should voluntarily donate blood,” Jha said.

World Blood Donor Day, first celebrated in 2004, raises awareness to the need for blood donation and to thank blood donors for their voluntary service.

“I donate blood to respect human values. It comes from within. I feel privileged donating blood,” he said, adding the number of blood donation camps in the district has come down due to the pandemic and Voluntary Blood Door’s Association (VBDA) and other social outfits are making serious efforts to maintain the supply.

VBDA is also motivating people to donate blood now, which highlights the importance of this noble gesture, he added.

Jha reached the 150-mark in May last year. The figure now stands at 153.

The Sonari resident donates blood four times (at every three-month interval) a year and has been involved in this exercise since 1981. “I don’t donate blood for achieving anything. Blood donation comes to me from within,” he said, informing that he donates 300cc of blood at each camp.

An adventure enthusiast, Jha breached the 100-mark in 2007 to commemorate Tata Steel’s 100 years. He, along with his friends, trekked to Sandakphu, the highest point of Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling, Bengal, in December 2017, to celebrate in advance the completion of Tata Group’s 150 years in 2018. The trek was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of blood donation.

He also treks Dalma hills and loves travelling to high altitude locations.

“I intend to continue donating blood till I am 65. One is not permitted to donate blood after that age. I have no health issues and blood donation could perhaps be the reason for this”, Jha, who also loves to click pictures, said.