Hold on......I am not going to give you another of those "bhAsans" (oratory) saying that you should donate blood. I will just narrate a story which happened to me yesterday. Yesterday we were having a blood donation camp in our campus. They made me the faculty-in-charge (for the lack of a more fitting faculty [;)] ) So I was wearing a batch showing the same symbol as was there on the pamphlets put up on the notice boards. This was marked by one of our security guards. For those who are not familiar with the security guard system in India, let me inform them that here private security guards are obtained through some agencies. The agencies are paid 3000 rupees per month per guard, whereas they pay just 1800 (~$45) to the guards. From that point of view, these guards are among the least paid employees in IIT.
Anyway, one such guards say me with the batch, and asked what is this thing all about? I told that they are collecting bloods, so that it can be given to some deserving patient. After that I went to my chamber and was resting for a while, when the guy came with one of his friends. And they want to donate blood. They say, till now they have not done any work of merit (as if we have done a lot!), hence let them donate some blood. Moreover, they said they are having a lot of blood which makes them angry sometime, so they should give some blood. Lastly, every evening the wretched mosquitoes suck so much blood, hence let some blood be given for some better cause!!
I contacted my student and arranged a slot for them. So delighted were they that they thanked me in profusion and said they will bring a lot of "laddus" (a sweet dish) from their village, the next time they visit home.
This is not just for blood donation. I think this is becoming the norm of the day. The more we are provided, the less charitable we become!
