Bill and Melinda Gates received one of India’s highest civilian awards for their work to promote global health and development. The Gates are among four foreigners and 16 Indians to receive the Padma Bhushan award “for distinguished service of high order,” according to a statement from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs.
“We are honored to receive the Padma Bhushan award for social work alongside so many distinguished awardees,” said Mr. and Mrs. Gates in a statement Wednesday
Their foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, started work in India in 2003 to prevent HIV/AIDS. It has since expanded its work to areas including vaccines, maternal and child health, sanitation and agricultural development and has an office in New Delhi. The foundation has an asset trust endowment of $42 billion.
“Our work is guided by the belief that all lives have equal value. We are excited to see the extraordinary progress that India is making in improving the lives of its people,” said the Gates’ statement. “We applaud the government of India’s commitment and look forward to continuing to partner with them to build an equitable system where women and children survive, thrive and reach their full potential.”
The Padma Bhushan is conferred on Jan. 26, Republic Day, each year by the president of India for service in fields including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service.
Other winners this year include political commentator Swapan Dasgupta, Supreme Court lawyer Harish Salve and filmmaker Jahnu Barua from the northeastern state of Assam.
The Padma Vibhushan, a higher award conferred on the same day, was awarded to nine people including Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and BJP co-founder L. K. Advani.
via Bill and Melinda Gates Receive Indian Civilian Award – India Real Time – WSJ.
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