Bengaluru: SAKSHAM and NSS wing of Nitte Meenkashi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru jointly organized Corneal Blindness Free Bharat Movement at Yelahanka on Thursday, September 8. This Abhiyan was inaugurated by Prof. N.R. Shetty, Vice President, Indian Red Cross Society. Govinda Raju, Director, SAKSHAM was also present.
“It is good that the fear created by superstitions in donating one’s eyes after death is slowly diminishing. Thanks to the awareness campaigns done frequently. People are coming forward now to register their names to donate their eyes after death, which otherwise would be destroyed either in fire or soil,” opined Prof. N.R. Shetty, Vice-President, Indian Red Cross Society of Karnataka Chapter.
He was speaking on the occasion while inaugurating CAMBA (Cornea Andhatv Mukti Bharat Abhiyan), Corneal blindness free Bharat movement organized by SAKSHAM, (National Organization Dedicated for Specially abled persons) and NSS wing of Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology Bengaluru.
“More than two lakh corneal blind people are waiting for transplantations to get back their vision in India itself. Approximately 20,000 people become corneally blind every year and one lac transplantable corneas are required every year. The most painful issue is 60 per cent of corneal blind people are below the age of twelve years. If one person donates, vision can be restored in two people. This is the greatest service to the Nation,” added Shetty.
The ‘CAMBA’ (Cornea Andhatv Mukti Bharat Abhiyan) consisting of thousand students of National Service Scheme of Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, went around neighboring villages with the objective of creating awareness. Govinda Raju, Director, SAKSHAM; Hari Krishna Rai, Joint Secretary, SAKSHAM; Dr. H.C. Nagaraj, Principal, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology and Rohit Punja, Administrator, Nitte Education Trust were present.
Later, thousands of students, villagers and teachers registered their consent for eye donation by sending their personal details to Mobile no. 7619644655.
