ROTARIAN LAL GOEL COMMENDS PRIME MINISTER MODI FOR HISTORIC PADMA HONOUR IN ORGAN DONATION
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Mumbai, 26 January 2026 — Rotarian Lal Goel, Founder and Charter President of the Rotary Club of Organ Donation International and Chairman of the Organ Donation India Foundation & GYAN, has expressed deep appreciation to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historic decision to confer the first-ever Padma Shri in the field of organ donation on Nilesh Mandlewala.
This unprecedented recognition marks a defining milestone for India’s organ donation movement, formally recognising organ donation and transplantation as a national life-saving priority and bringing long-overdue visibility to a cause that saves thousands of lives every year.
Rotarian Lal Goel lauded the Prime Minister’s consistent, sensitive, and visionary leadership in strengthening India’s organ donation ecosystem. He highlighted several transformative initiatives undertaken under the Prime Minister’s guidance, including:
• The landmark enhancement of Ayushman Bharat coverage under the AB-PMJAY Scheme for organ transplantation from ₹5 lakh to ₹15 lakh in 2023, significantly improving access to life-saving procedures for economically vulnerable families.
• Reiterated emphasis on organ donation through Mann Ki Baat, which has played a crucial role in sensitising, motivating, and inspiring millions of citizens across the country.
“This Padma Shri is not merely an individual honour; it is a tribute to the entire organ donation fraternity—volunteers, doctors, transplant coordinators, counsellors, and donor families—who work quietly and tirelessly to save lives,” said Rotarian Lal Goel. “We are deeply grateful to the Hon’ble Prime Minister for giving national recognition to this noble, humanitarian, and urgent cause.”
Rotarian Lal Goel warmly congratulated Mr Nilesh Mandlewala for his selfless and sustained service to society and recalled his association with him through several online interactions. He expressed confidence that this historic honour will inspire many more individuals, institutions, corporates, and youth to actively support organ donation and help bridge the critical gap between demand and availability of organs in India.
“This historic Padma honour must now translate into mass action. Organ donation must move beyond recognition and become a nationwide people’s movement—because every donation is a life-saver, and every donor has the power to save many lives,” Rotarian Lal Goel concluded.
