In a bid to encourage general people to donate blood, Odisha government has decided to issue bus passes to those who do it regularly, officials said today.
The decision, taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here yesterday, said the regular blood donors may avail free travel in buses across the state.
The state government will prepare a directory of blood donors according to their blood groups, the Chief minister told the meeting.
Initially people with rare blood groups will be registered and a blood help line will be operational.
At least 3.65 lakh units of blood were collected this year. Of it 45 per cent came from voluntary blood donors. A total of 1,206 voluntary blood donation camps were organized this year.