SAKSHAM, which is a national organisation based in India that works for the empowerment of the differently-abled, has announced the launch of Netra Kumbh which shall be organised during the forthcoming Kumbh in 2019. During the launch of Netra Kumbh at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on 14 October 2019, Dr Krishnagopal along with Dr K. Sukumar and Dr Santhosh Kraleti announced that SAKSHAM plans to screen over one million eye patients, provide spectacles to over hundred thousand and perform cataract surgeries from January -March 2019. Over 400 reputed doctors and medical institutions from across the country have already agreed to be part of the noble initiative.
This kind of exercise shall be most unique in India which has the maximum number of blind people in the world. The situation needs an immediate address as 60% of corneal blind people are below the age of 12 and 69% of blind children drop out of school because of corneal blindness. In September 2017, UK DFID called the initiatives of SAKSHAM an important contribution to development in India. The forthcoming Netra Kumbh is a wonderful opportunity for the Ophthalmologists, Eye surgeons and Optometrists of the Indian diaspora and others in Britain who can devote at least 4 days for Netra kumbh, and can be part of this noble deed.
