FKCCI president M.G. Balakrishna, former Chairman of the Karnataka Border Area Development Authority C. Somashekar, IAS, and Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji, along with others, felicitates C. N. Manjunath with the Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Award during the Founders Day celebration at the FKCCI office in Bengaluru on September 15, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.
Sixty percent of deaths in India are caused by lifestyle-related diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and mental health disorders linked to screen addiction and loneliness, said C.N. Manjunath, MP and former Director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research here on Monday.
“No nation can progress without addressing this silent epidemic,” he said while speaking after receiving the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Award from the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) on Engineers’ Day.
Dr. Manjunath stressed that technology and engineering must be harnessed not only for industrial growth but also for public health, water security, and environmental sustainability. “Clean air, clean water, unadulterated food, and a clean mind are the real cornerstones of health. Robotics in surgery and advances in medical technology can treat patients, but preventing disease requires better urban planning, pollution control, and sustainable engineering,” he said.
The veteran cardiologist highlighted alarming statistics wherein 14 lakh people die each year in India due to smoking and 22 lakh people die annually due to air pollution. “These two factors alone are nullifying the efforts of our entire healthcare system,” he warned.
Published – September 15, 2025 11:47 pm IST
