Illegal kidney donors, grappling with an identity crisis brought about by unauthorised changes to their Aadhaar cards and battling health issues, often find themselves with no choice but to work as agents for organ traders. Many of these donors, most of whom were impoverished to begin with, are left to struggle with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the removal of their organ renders them unfit for work that fetches enough for two square meals a day, leaving them open to exploitation.

mid-day learnt that illegal donors formed multiple channels and groups on Instagram and Facebook where they lure others to donate their kidneys. Each illegal donor-turned-agent is given Rs 50,000 as a commission for enticing a potential donor, one of them revealed, adding, “If such an individual is sent to a foreign country, they are given a commission of Rs 1 lakh; but they need to have a valid passport. The commission for fetching donors from a foreign country is transferred directly to the agent’s bank account.”