Petite and cuddlesome with spectacles perched on her nose, she looks every bit the grandmother next-door (a smart one). But a short chat later, you are left with no doubt about her devotion to the cause of blood donation. That she is the driving force behind the blood bank of PGI, is clear from the way she cleverly manipulates the conversation around it. Try getting her to speak about herself and she grimaces: ``Look here, why don't we talk about donation? That's what you should be highlighting.''

Yes, ma'am, but.. That's all that you can get in before she goes back to her favourite subject, her life's work which has got her a rich haul of awards, including the Red Cross Medal by the President of India (1970), Padma Shri in 1971 and Mother Teresa Award last year.

Born on February 7, 1929, Kanta learnt the lesson of social service from her mother who was associated with Red Cross during the World War II.Marriage to Saroop Krishen, a young ICS officer, who rose to the post of chief secretary, Haryana, saw her getting busy in rearing a family of three kids -- one son and two daughters. But once her children grew up, social service again took the centrestage. ``I believe that a person has only one lifetime and should strive to do as much good as possible. As I didn't believe in wasting time in kitty and card parties, I approached the PGI Director in 1964 for some work,'' says Kanta.

``It was two to three months later that the PGI Director informed me about the plan to set up a blood bank,'' she recalls. ``He said they needed a person to launch 100 per cent voluntary blood donation movement.'' Kanta jumped at the offer. And has never regretted her decision. ``This work has taught me to look beyond myself and it gives me a marvellous feeling of well-being.''

The Blood Bank Society has 30 volunteers working for it and four persons on its rolls. Conducting 15-16 camps every month, the society members look after the motivational aspect of donation and once the person reaches the blood bank, the PGI staff take over. There are two types of donors -- voluntary and replacement (ones donating for a relative or oneself).The society also conducts camps at organisations, business houses etc and has been taking out different kinds of rallies (cycle, `chain of life' in which the local school students held hands and formed a long chain) of school children.

``The underlying motive in involving school children in our mission is three fold it helps in bringing about awareness in parents, teachers and also the administration as they will have to make special arrangements for hundreds of kids on the roads taking out a procession.''

The funds for the society's working are collected through donations, grants, sale of greeting cards etc. The money is then utilised for providing the donors with refreshments, salaries of the two employees and on maintenance of two vans .

``Every year we organise a function to honour those who donate blood more than five times and there are about 400 persons who are awarded each year. Till now, the response to the functions has been good and the sponsorship also has not been a problem so far.''

It also maintains all records. A Centrifuge was donated to the society recently.