AGARTALA, September 15 (TIWN): A mega blood donation camp was organized by Tripura State Riffles (TSR) 1st battalion at Gokulnagar here today. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the blood donation camp.

Speaking in the blood donation camp the state has earned a very important position in the country when it comes to blood collection through voluntary blood donation camps. There is no alternative of blood said Manik Sarkar.  Manik Sarkar appreciated the initiative of the TSR for organizing the blood donation camp.

Voluntary donors donated 92.72 percent of the required blood in 2012-2013; the figures rose to 98.67 percent in the last financial year, a source in the Tripura State Blood Transfusion Council (TSBTC) said later this afternoon.

The source further said that barely 1 percent of the entire population eligible to donate blood in the state is currently involved in the voluntary blood donation movement.

A total of 352 TSR Jawans donated blood in the blood donation camp and 150 TSR Jawans donated their eye. According to National Aids Control Organization, only five states in India have the distinction of over 80% blood collection through voluntary donation against the national average of 55 to 60%. The states are Tripura, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab and Maharashtra.