"Recognition of my work has been given Padma Shri award": Yazdi Maneksha Italia

Six persons from Gujarat were awarded with Padma awards, with noted interventional cardiologist Dr Tejas Patel among them.

Microbiologist Dr Yazdi Maneksha Italia, who pioneered the development of India's first sickle cell anemia control programme of the Gujarat government was conferred with the Padma Shri award on Monday. Italia is among the 21 contributors to the counselling modules on sickle cell disease by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which aims to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047.

Speaking to ANI after receiving the award, Italia said that it was his work that was conferred with the award. "Recognition of my work has been given the Padma Shri award, not Italia, I must say. We are working in a tribal area and sickle cell anaemia is a tribal health issue. It is a hereditary disease that is passed on from parents to children and the treatment given for it is also different. We have been doing it for 40 years. Now the government has implemented it for the nation and by 2047 we will reduce the patients of sickle cell anemia to zero, so this is a very good thing," Italia said.

Six persons from Gujarat were awarded with Padma awards, with noted interventional cardiologist Dr Tejas Patel among them. President Droupadi Murmu presented 3 Padma Vibhushan, 8 Padma Bhushan and 55 Padma Shri Awards for the year 2024 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held with grandeur in Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, many Ministers of the Union and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. After the investiture ceremony, Shah interacted with the Padma Awardees at a dinner hosted by the Home Minister at his residence in New Delhi.

The Padma Awardees will pay homage at the National War Memorial tomorrow morning. They will also visit Rashtrapati Bhawan and Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya. The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service).

The award seeks to recognise achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved. The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations of the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

The Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, the Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members. (ANI)

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