JOIN USTo look at things through someone else’s eyes is a common enough expression we all use, but at The Project Vision (TPV) it is a way of life for them. Working in the area of eye donation, Father George Kannanthanam, the founder of this movement, hopes to bring sight to the visually impaired by giving a massive impetus to eye donations.
A national survey on blindness in Karnataka revealed that nearly 50 per cent of the population had poor and impaired vision and the prevalence of blindness in the State was over and above the national average. Of the 15 million blind people across the country, three million suffered from cornea deficiencies and an eye transplant could help regain their sight again. A dismal collection of a mere 35,000 corneas as against a demand for 1,50,000 corneas was a mere drop in the ocean.
Eye donation capital
Aiming to make Bengaluru the eye donation capital of the world, The Project Vision (TPV) comes up with unique drives, campaigns and awareness initiatives to drive home the important point of eye donations. Cutting across religions and communities, some of whom have their own myths and superstitions regarding the giving away of the eyes after death, Father George has made it his single most determined aim to ensure sight to the blind and no bridge is too hard to cross in this quest.
Recently, a unique awareness initiative called ‘The Blind Walk’ was held on the bustling MG Road in Bengaluru. It was a case of the blind leading the blind but there was a twist to this! Sighted volunteers with their eyes blindfolded were led through the busy roads by their visually impaired friends, who weaved their way through the traffic with their canes. This campaign ended with hundreds of donation forms being filled and eyes pledged to TPV.
Girish is a blind ambassador at TPV. Recently, at his wedding, the visually
impaired groom hit on a novel idea for an eye donation drive. Along with the haldi kumkum to guests, eye donations forms were distributed and these received a rousing response!
Father George, a priest and social worker, is no stranger to throwing his weight behind social causes. He is also involved in a host of other social projects ranging from leprosy homes to de-addiction centres and HIV destitute rehabilitation. He is canny enough to tailor in resource mobilisation with contemporary touches. Last New Year Eve, he organised a fun party where guests paid to ring in the New Year with their visually
challenged friends!
TPV runs a slew of socio economic rehabilitation programmes to help the
financially disadvantaged as blindness is more prevalent amongst the economically weaker sections. To help the blind lead better lives with better opportunities, an event like the New Year party with a twist, helped 17-year-old Suresh acquire a computer to set up his dream of a small business endeavour.
TPV is also working at strengthening the infrastructure for eye care at both the district and state levels by having regular eye check ups and screenings at school entry level. Barely 100 km out of Bengaluru, a huge facility for affordable and accessible eye care will soon be in place to address the need and concerns of the visually challenged. Father George is putting in place many advocacy plans and programmes to ensure that the rights of the visually impaired are understood and protected.
A national eye registry, like that for organ donation, will go a long way to
structure and streamline the process where ‘first come is first served’ according to Father George, who sees many milestones yet to be reached. While Karnataka has a dedicated 104 helpline for the public to reach an eye bank, the rest of the country is yet to implement one and TPV is aiming to ensure that this task is accomplished. Recognising the strength of working with global partners, TPV has tied up with the University of Singapore for student volunteers and with SERVE Ireland for resource mobilisation. The Art of Living Foundation, which also has a good global reach, is one of its partners in India.
You can connect with The Project Vision at www.theprojectvision.org.