Nilesh Mandlewala, founder of 'Donate Life', and haemophilia survivor Dr Suresh Hanagavadi — both recipients of the Padma Shri — have called on the government and public to expand organ donation awareness and extend job reservation to people living with haemophilia. The two will be formally honoured by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on Monday, 26 May 2025.

Mandlewala's Mission: 1,300 Donations and a 2047 Vision

Mandlewala was emphatic that the Padma Shri is not a personal milestone. 'I believe this honour belongs to all those organisations across the country and every individual involved in the noble work of organ donation, who work day and night to save precious lives. It is also an honour for those families who have donated the organs of their loved ones post their death,' he said.

The campaign was born from personal grief. Mandlewala recalled that his father's illness first drew him to the cause — and while he could not save his father, 'Donate Life' has since facilitated more than 1,300 successful organ donations. He also credited the Surat police for establishing Gujarat's first green corridor for organ transplant, a logistical breakthrough that has since been replicated elsewhere.

Looking ahead, Mandlewala has set a landmark target aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Viksit Bharat' vision. 'We have set a mission that in 2047, when our country celebrates 100 years of independence, no patient in India should die because of not getting an organ in time,' he said. He added that the youth have been central to the campaign for the past two years, with the aim of ensuring the next generation sustains this movement.

The Scale of India's Organ Shortage

Mandlewala underscored the urgency of expanding organ donation infrastructure. He noted that millions of people die each year in India due to a shortage of available organs — deaths he described as preventable. He stressed that the Padma Shri would be meaningful only if it helps extend transplant facilities to states where the process has not yet begun, pointing to a significant geographic gap in India's organ donation ecosystem.

Dr Hanagavadi's Appeal: Prophylaxis, Prevention, and Job Reservation

Dr Suresh Hanagavadi, himself a haemophilia survivor, described the disease as a 'low-volume, high-cost' condition with far-reaching consequences. 'Disability is very common; most of our children with haemophilia become disabled by the time they reach adolescence. However, disability in haemophilia is preventable,' he said.

He explained that prophylactic treatment — administering clotting factors before bleeding episodes occur — is the key to preventing joint damage. He also pointed to newer 'non-factor therapy' options for patients lacking blood-clotting proteins, describing these as a significant clinical advance that needs to reach more patients.

Beyond clinical care, Dr Hanagavadi highlighted the social burden of the disease. Many children with haemophilia face high school absenteeism and are unable to pursue education without interruption. He appealed to the government to create a supportive environment for these children to 'grow uneventfully.'

Call for Job Reservation Under Disability Act

Dr Hanagavadi made a pointed appeal for job reservation for people with haemophilia under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. 'Since haemophilia is a lifelong disorder, they face many psychosocial challenges and difficulties in pursuing education. Providing job reservation under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 would have a significant positive impact on families affected by haemophilia,' he said. The appeal reflects a broader push by patient advocacy groups to have haemophilia formally recognised within India's disability welfare framework in a more substantive way.

Both awardees expressed gratitude to the Centre, Prime Minister Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah for the recognition, while making clear that the honour has sharpened — not satisfied — their sense of purpose.