In one of the assignments here, i was asked to write on organ transplants with the viewpoint of the donor, specifically the difficulaties that they face while trying to donate organs. But for me, a more haunting spectre has been the kidney racket. It is so inhuman, and becoming so pervasive that the lack of coverage in the media has been conspicuous in itself. The fact that most of the affected people are voiceless and poor, obviously keeps the racket under wraps. The situation is dangerous for an organised mafia is running the show with barely imaginable ruthlessness. Its contacts with the right people in the administration and the corruption in the administrative machinery has made it possible for the mafia to gain first, a toehold and then spread like a contagion.

Now the situation is that any patient who is does not well off financially and socially can find himself deprived of a kidney. The decision to donate has to come from donor and no one else. Any form of coercion and deception is unlawful. In fact, the Act governing transplants has gone a bit further in trying to stop this - it has forbidden the use of anyone else's kidneys other than a dorect relative from being used for donation. While this is a debatable point as it might prevent scores of people from doing a welfare for mankind and save a preventable death, the debate here is concerned with the lack of scrupulousness among public officials which results in the Act being redundant functionally. Aided by the muscle of the mafia, doctors compromise their intergrity for money and treat the patients as disposable commodities.

The most horrific incident was when both the kidneys of a poor slum dweller were removed in Uttar Pradesh. Till date, justice has not been done and the doctors must have gained in confidence while committing similar crimes. They did a lot of positive publicity and even hired professional agencies. Now they have almost got back the face they had lost. The only ray of hope is the Supreme Court where many cases now lie awaiting trial.

Many people have lost their lives in their attempt to bring out this anomaly in civilised society. But sadly most people want to wish that away, thinking and believing they won't be affected in any way. There is chance, rising each day, that they well might be. Which means that it is time for the public to act and to make sure that the politicians are forced to hear them. There are of course, no prizes for guessing that some of them share the booty of the kidney racket. So they would consent only when their political future is at stake. There is no other way to get them to act affirmatively and strongly.

A general awakening is what is called for here rather than sporadic sounds that can be easily silenced. Also journalists must look at such stories with a motivation to expose the underlying evil in society rather than just another opportunity of a scoop alone. The latter is necessary but it should not overwhelm the former objective.