President Droupadi Murmu conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa) upon Padmabhushan Dr. Mehta, founder and Chief Patron of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), during the ninth convocation of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi. Dr Mehta, a retired IAS officer and former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, received the accolade for his remarkable contributions to humanity, particularly in rehabilitating the disabled through BMVSS, renowned for its creation of the globally acclaimed Jaipur Foot. Having rehabilitated over 2.2 million disabled individuals in 42 countries, Dr. Mehta’s work has garnered recognition, including the Padmabhushan in 2008 and the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhawana Puraskar in 2012.
President Murmu praised ILBS for its achievements in providing world-class healthcare services over 13 years, including 1000 liver transplants and 300 renal transplants. She emphasized India’s emergence as an international healthcare hub, citing institutions like ILBS offering high-quality healthcare at relatively low costs.
Murmu commended ILBS for integrating life sciences and modern technology in healthcare, especially the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Learning Unit. She encouraged ongoing research efforts and stressed the importance of preventive healthcare, expressing confidence in ILBS’s role in preventing liver diseases.