A woman doctor in Jammu and Kashmir has been honoured for donating blood for more than 50 times in three decades by an organisation which promotes such efforts.

A senior medical officer at Police Hospital, Jammu, Kiran Sharma, received the award from the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology (ISBTI) this month for her extraordinary contribution in the field of voluntary blood donation movement.ISBTI was formed in 1972 after Indo-Pak war in 1971, to motivate people for voluntary blood donation in the country.Sharma, the only women among the 10 people who received the award, said she felt inner solace on all 53 times she had donated blood."I am donating blood for the past 30 years. I started in 1987 when I was a student," she told.

Born in Bhaderwah area of Doda district, Sharma received the award from ISBTI during its 42nd National Conference held at Kota in Rajasthan from Dec 8-10.She said family issues had an impact on her to work for the humanity irrespective of cast, creed, colour and religion.I feel satisfaction in social work and had voluntarily joined several non-government organisations for the betterment of the society.Sharma also works as a volunteer with the All India Women Conference which helps destitute, abandoned and divorced women.