Quick Facts
Biography
Sampat Tukaram Ramteke (1950 - 17 Nov 2017) was an engineer and social activist from Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. In 2018, he was conferred the Padma Sri civilian honour posthumously, for his contribution in raising awareness about the sickle cell disease.
Career
He worked at Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and retired as a superintending engineer in 2010.
Social activism
Ramteke is considered as the torchbearer of the movement for raising awareness about sickle cell disease. It started when his son was diagnosed with the disease. In 1991, he founded the Sickle Cell Society of India (SCSI) and worked towards raising awareness about sickle cell disease for over three decades. Due to his efforts, patients with the disease came to be included in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016).
Personal life
He and his wife had a son and daughter. He died in November 2017 due to cardiac arrest.