Former Union Minister Sharad Pawar advocated for the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, to be conferred upon Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, the esteemed founder of the Serum Institute of India (SII), lauding his significant contributions to vaccine production. Pawar expressed this sentiment during an event held in Pune on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Mohan Dharia Rashtranirman Puraskar ceremony, Pawar remarked, "Dr. Poonawalla's remarkable achievements in vaccine manufacturing are unparalleled. Initially honored with the Padma Shri by the government, his contributions were further recognized with the Padma Bhushan. However, I firmly believe that confining his accolades to the Padma Bhushan alone would be inadequate. Given the magnitude of his contributions to the nation, the global community, and humanity at large, he truly deserves the Bharat Ratna."
It's worth noting that Pawar and Poonawalla share a longstanding friendship that traces back to their college days.
The Serum Institute, under Dr. Poonawalla's leadership, has been instrumental in the production of the COVID-19 vaccine, which has demonstrated efficacy in combating the pandemic. Additionally, the institute has played a pivotal role in the development and distribution of vaccines for numerous other diseases, further solidifying its impact on public health initiatives.
