The Chhatrapati Charitable Foundation’s Shiv Jayanti Ustav Yuvak Samiti celebrates Shiv Jayanti uniquely every year by organising a blood donation drive called ‘Maha Raktdan Sankalp’. On Wednesday, blood donation camps were held at two locations in Sangamner taluka, Ahilyanagar district (formerly Ahmednagar), throughout the day. The samiti (association), established in 2011 for social causes, has around 7500 members.

Rahul Nehulkar, one of the founders of the association, told mid-day: “Every year, around a thousand people donate blood at our camp. We also organise camps in nearby villages, where even in small areas around 50 villagers come forward to donate blood. It is an ongoing activity. Around 3500 people in total have donated blood at camps held over the past four years.”