This award makes me happy: Varaprasad Reddy

“I have received over 250 awards so far, but I am happy to receive this life time achievement award from HMTV,” said Shanta Biotech founder Dr K I Varaprasad Reddy, who has been felicitated at HMTV Business Excellence Awards function and presented with Life Time Achievement Award.

Citing the reasons for not happy over previous awards, Dr Reddy said: “Affordable vaccines were not encouraged by the governments earlier. I ran my biotech company without water facility for over 20 years. My affordable vaccine was put aside for 14 years.

During that time also, I was honoured and got awards, but I was not happy then. Even Pakistan availed of our affordable vaccine by taking approval from then Vajpayee government, but it couldn’t take off in our country. Bangladesh also imported our affordable vaccine.

Anyhow, things have changed now. India has emerged as a donor nation. Five vaccine companies from Hyderabad are contributing to requirements of 70 per cent of children globally.”

Reddy further adds that life time achievement award doesn’t bode well for middle age entrepreneurs or youngsters, but for a 70-year-old person like me, it’s ok. “However, there’re several eminent personalities in Telugu states, who deserve this award more than me.”