2) Donors with negative blood group are discouraged to donate blood by some grass root level camp organizers and even by some blood bank officials. A myth goes that negative blood group is rare and for that reason negative donors should only donate blood on-call. The actual picture is not the same. 3.07 % of the population in West Bengal is Rh-negative. So it is quite clear that the number of receivers is also less. But if the blood bank meter always shows negative regarding stock then people in dire emergency would not be able to collect blood. Considering their blood to be 'precious', many negative blood group donors stop visiting camps leading to permanent self-exclusion. But the actual scenario demands regular donation from the negative blood group donors.

3) Out of one thousand people, only four donate blood in our country. The statistics shows that blood donors are special people. Donor care and recognition is a very essential part of blood donation. Proper care and recognition boost the donors which in turn will help in donor retention. But many organizers are only interested in numbers to raise their collar and proper care of donors in camps takes back seat.

4) Every year there is a huge crisis during the summer and festive season (Durga Puja - Diwali). This is mainly due to decrease in number of blood donation camps during these periods. The demand and supply equilibrium gets shattered. On the other hand, the blood bank shelves are brimmed during winter and spring. Proper planning of blood collection drive is needed to combat this crisis.

5) The stock of blood in many blood banks is not disclosed, which violates the right to information and people rush from one blood bank to the other in emergency while the clock moves from one quarter to the other

6) Awful presence of blood-brokers is observed in front of almost all blood banks. They have an unhealthy nexus with some of the staff of the blood banks.

7) Professional donors, veiled as relatives in case of replacement donation donate blood at short intervals. Blood collected from these donors affect the patients when they are transfused.

8) Except a few blood banks in the city other blood banks generally collect blood from replacement donors from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. only .The process of transfusion gets delayed in various cases for this reason.

Realizing these problems and to curb it we have taken certain initiatives:

a) Higher secondary schools, colleges and local area based organizations are the main source of new blood donors.who ready to donate blood at any where any time.

* Extensive campaign, awareness education and motivational programmes are conducted in these sectors and new blood donors are introduced to the society.

* LUCY penetrates into the college & University campuses, into the local clubs for extensive campaigning for the need of blood donation and encourages NEW donors to participate in blood donation as well as retain the old donors.

* LUCY Club 25 plays an important role where donors between 18-25 years pledge & donate blood at least 3 times a year.

* School education programme on 'Blood & Blood Donor Motivation' is undertaken for future donors. This education program starts with students of 9th standard. Participants in turn become motivators and donors in due course of time.

b) LUCY creates awareness & motivates negative blood group donors to participate at least 2 times in blood donation drives and rest on call. LUCY has a club of negative blood group donors named 'LUCY Negative Club'. Negative blood group donors enroll so that they can be reached instantly in emergency. Database of donors in panel is maintained properly and it is kept confidential.

c) Continuous dialogue with co-organizers of blood drive giving special stress on donor care is in regular schedule of LUCY. Steps taken to ensure donor care are:

* Reception of blood donors

* Bed side volunteer

* Post donation escort to refreshment room

* Management of adverse donor reaction if situation occurs

* Waving good bye

d) To combat the summer & festive season crisis certain measures are taken:

* Mega blood donation drive in summer.

* Camp request letters are sent to various social groups, political organizations, student organizations, office clubs etc., to organize camps during summer.

* Co- organizers are requested to arrange and shift date of camps according to the need of the society.

* Puja organizers are requested to arrange camps in Puja pandals during the festive season.

* Co-organizers are requested to organize special summer and festive camps.

e) Promotional materials are distributed to encourage blood donors. First-time donor card, Thank-You donor card, Stickers for blood donor, metal badge, sun guard, writing pad, pen, Tshirts, calendar etc., are distribute in blood donation camps to encourage and recognize blood donors.

f) Indoor & Outdoor campaign to promote blood donation:

* Car stickers, posters, hoardings promoting voluntary blood donation.

* Banners are displayed during festive season in puja pandals.

* Pledge signature campaign for blood donation.

* Exhibition on blood donation during blood donation drive.

* Pledge sticker campaign for blood donation.

* Awareness drive and campaign observing World blood donor day, National voluntary blood donation day.

g) Online empanelment of donors. Database is maintained with utmost care and the panel of donors is kept confidential.

h) 24 hours help line. Panel donors are ready to donate blood at any hour if there is a true emergency.

i) Dialogue with blood bank officials to solve blood bank related problems.

j) Discussion with blood users on rational use of blood.

k) Seminars & workshops are arranged on various blood related issues.

LUCY club 25 is formed through which new donors from the age group of 18-25 years are introduced to the society.

LUCY Negative CLUB is formed with people having Negative blood group to curb the crisis of negative blood

Members and volunteers of our organization rushed at odd hours to donate blood .There is instance when one of our members went to donate blood at 1 A.M. and returned back at dawn. Another member reached the blood bank at dawn to donate on a ‘Bandh” day. One of us walked 10 kilometers on a day of strike to donate blood and another reached a hospital on E.M. bypass from Howrah through the flooded streets on the 3rd day of heavy shower when the city almost came to a stand still

These are some of the incidents which shows dedication of our volunteers and members.

We have extended our blood donation activities beyond the boundaries of our state. Members and volunteers residing outside our state are also donating blood voluntarily

A) You are between 15 and 25 years.

B) YOU are below 21 years of age and donated blood at least once every year from your 18th birthday

C) You pledge to donate 20 times before you reach 25 years of age.

You can also join club 25 if you can’t donate blood due to medical reasons. In that situation you can

a) work as motivator

b) work as organizer

c) work as camp assistants

d) work as document writer,poster designer

Membership fees : Rs.50 as registration and Rs 20 yearly.

Membership kit: You will receive a membership kit at the time of registration which will include

a) A pledge reminder card

b) A LUCY CLUB 25 membership card

c) Blood group sticker