Harsh Goenka’s RPG Foundation distributes 1.5 lakh spectacles free of cost
Project Netranjali screens 3 lakh people for eye health
Jammu, Ap 25: India has the distinction of being the home of the world's largest number of blind people. According to a WHO report for India, 12 million people were reported to be blind and this figure continues to go up by 30,000 every year.
Considering the scenario, Harsh Goenka-led RPG Foundation launched an eye-care intervention initiative Netranjali in 2014-15. The programme has reached out to almost 3 lakh people across the country to help diagnose vision-related problems in a span of less than three years.
The foundation has conducted over 2500 extensive eye check-up camps across over 35 cities and towns in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab and West Bengal to name a few. Of the three lakh people who were screened, one-and-a-lakh were given spectacles and referrals for further treatment free of cost. These camps are set up especially for rural population of the country which has the highest need for this intervention. The demographics of the camps include truckers, slum communities and school children.
“One out of every three blind persons in the world lives in India.But interestingly, 80% of them could have been prevented from going blind if they had received timely treatment. Our aim is to address that gap. From eye check-ups to simple corrective action to help for more serious cases, we want toensure that themillions of needy, visually impaired people in our country, see a better, happier life. The aim this year is to double our reach by screening more people and expand our presence in North East, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh,” said, Mr Harsh Goenka, Chairman, RPG Enterprises.
ReshmaBharade, an AnganwadiSevika in a village in Vasai, has a blind son and a six-year old daughter with blurred vision. “My daughter was facing difficulty in reading from the blackboard, thus hampering her studies. I was worried that she too would turn blind. At an eye screening camp conducted by RPG Foundation’s Netranjaliprogramme, I got her checked and they gave her spectacles. Now, she can see the black board and has no problem while studying,” she stated.