Actor Chiranjeevi Facilitates Late Mother-in-Law's Eye Donation
In a compassionate gesture, actor Chiranjeevi facilitated the eye donation of his mother-in-law, Smt. Allu Kanakaratnam, who recently passed away. During a time of personal grief for his family, the decision was made to ensure her vision could bring light to others in need. The noble act has been praised as an inspiring example of turning sorrow into service and reflects the veteran actor's long-standing commitment to humanitarian causes, particularly his advocacy for blood and eye donation.
Unpacked:
Allu Kanakaratnam was the mother-in-law of actor Chiranjeevi and mother of producer Allu Aravind. She was 94 years old at the time of her passing. While not a public figure herself, her family is prominent in the Telugu film industry.
Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust (CCT), started in 1998, operates blood and eye banks. It has collected over 930,000 units of blood and facilitated over 4,580 pairs of eye donations, helping restore eyesight to more than 9,000 people. The trust is widely recognized for raising awareness and setting records in voluntary donations.
Eye donation in India is relatively uncommon compared to the need; there’s a significant shortage of corneas for transplantation. Major challenges include lack of awareness, cultural beliefs, and logistical issues. Advocacy by public figures like Chiranjeevi helps increase visibility and encourages more people to pledge their eyes.
Chiranjeevi uses his celebrity status to promote organ and blood donation through public campaigns, media appearances, and by featuring appeals in his films. His trust organizes donation drives and educational initiatives, leveraging his large fan base to further the causes and provide free or subsidized medical help to those in need.