West Bengal: India Vision Institute and partners try to bring good vision to Durgapur, Kolkata

IVI, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Durgapur, Kolkata and Bhawanipur Yubo Sangathan joined hands to conduct a vision campaign over Jan 28 and 29 to help the underprivileged communities and create awareness on the need to take care of the eyes.

IVI CEO Vinod Daniel said: “A large number of Indians can’t see well as they do not have a pair of spectacles.”

“That number might increase with time,” he said.

He said the lack of awareness about having a pair of spectacles to solve the vision problem is also increasing the number of people in this country who cannot see well.

“People should realise that they should get their eyes checked and get the proper spectacles,” he said.

He also highlighted the need of the country to have more optometrists for the large number of people who get left out.

“A large section of the people are getting left out in this nation due to this shortage of optometrists in the country,” he said.

“Our push is one to make people more aware and also give the much needed support so that more and more people could be reached. We cannot reach everyone but other organizations are also working in this area and we also want to be a part of the movement,” he said.

“A one pair of glasses also helps a child, who cannot see well, in this nation to attain his excellence in performance," Daniel said.

He said the productivity of weavers and tailors also increases with the use of spectacle after they attend a certain age.

“A pair of glass can even prevent accidents,” he said.

Speaking on the collaboration with NSHM, he said: “We are pleased to collaborate with our partners in Kolkata for this important vision campaign over two days at the NSHM Knowledge Campus, Durgapur at which some 500 people will be screened, and around 250 are expected to be provided free pairs of spectacles.”

“With these screenings, IVI has resumed our vision screenings in eastern India along with a campaign in Nagaland in March. Earlier programs in the region have covered activities in Kolkata and Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya,” he noted.

“There are over 355,480 individuals and children IVI has screened to date. From 1,000 vision screening programs in 19 states of India, IVI has provided free pairs of spectacles to 54,476 adults and 27,979 children. The screenings and free spectacles to the needy have ensured that adults have improved earning capabilities and children have better education,” added Daniel.

Soumendra Nath Ghosh, Head of Optometry & Vision Sciences, NHSM Knowledge Campus, Durgapur, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with India Vision Institute in the screenings at Durgapur. Our organizations have worked together in the past, and we look to partnering again in the future."

IVI’s past activities in Kolkata have included a workshop “EyeTeach: Education Design for Learning” in association with NSHM at NSHM Knowledge Campus, April 2017, a Workshop on Diabetic Retinopathy, in collaboration with LV Prasad Eye Institute, for Optometrists at NSHM Knowledge Campus, March 2017, and a 'Walk in the Dark' awareness campaign organised at Victoria Memorial on April 29, 2018, with some 600 participants, including blind and visually impaired children.

Other IVI activities have included a series of workshops, under IVI’s Capacity-building Program for Educators in Eastern India, organised jointly with the Vidyasagar College of Optometry and Vision Science in Kolkata during March 2013.

IVI also led a workshop on Sports Vision at the NSHM Knowledge campus in Kolkata on 25-26 September 2014.

(Reporting by Supriyo Hazra, Vinod Daniel's images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)