‘Donate Life’ founder Nilesh Mandlewala and haemophilia survivor Dr. Suresh Hanagavadi have made appeals for organ donation from brain-dead patients and job reservation for those affected by haemophilia, respectively. Both will be honored with the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Expressing gratitude, the awardees thanked the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah for the recognition. Mandlewala sees the award not as a personal achievement but as a tribute to the nationwide organ donation movement.
Mandlewala praised the Surat police for establishing Gujarat’s first green corridor for organ transplants. He emphasized the need for organ donation, aiming for a future where no patient in India dies due to a lack of timely organs by 2047, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision for the country’s centenary of independence.
Dr. Hanagavadi, appreciating the honor, highlighted the challenges faced by those with haemophilia, a costly disease leading to disabilities. He stressed the importance of prophylactic treatment to prevent bleeding episodes and joint damage, improving the quality of life for affected individuals.
Urging the government to support children with haemophilia, Dr. Hanagavadi called for job reservations under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. He emphasized the positive impact such measures would have on families dealing with haemophilia-related challenges.
