Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind (Sightsavers India)
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Mission Statement
We are a development organization working with partners in underserved areas of India to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
About This Cause
About Sightsavers India Sightsavers India also known as Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, is a development organisation working with partners to reduce avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for people with disabilities. Sightsavers India collaborates with various departments of the respective state governments to scale up operations for Social Inclusion, Eye Health and Inclusive Education— our three core areas of work. We work in a sustainable way to promote lasting change by strengthening existing health systems, seeking to engage with the governments, and demonstrating best practices. We currently operate across 10 states, 16 cities, and 92 districts, and India’s Golden Quadrilateral and North-South-East-West corridors. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our reach to 100+ districts and 20+ cities, bringing our programmes to even more communities across the country. Our Programmes: Netra Vasant—Rural Eye Health Programme Sightsavers launched the Netra Vasant - Rural Eye Health Programme, currently operational in 92 districts, to improve vision-related quality of life by strengthening rural eye health systems in India. With over 152 static vision centres across ten states, the programme focuses on reducing blindness, increasing Cataract Surgical Rates (CSR), and ensuring equitable, sustainable eye care for underserved communities. We aim to achieve universal coverage vis-a-vis eye health services by reducing blindness prevalence, providing equitable coverage, and financial and programmatic sustainability. Amrita Drishti—Urban Eye Health Programme This programme improves urban eye care for low-income residents in 16 cities by integrating its vision centres with Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs), establishing vision centres with partner collaboration, building community resources and strengthening the National Health Mission. It also deploys healthcare Mobile Vans offering teleconsultation, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy screening, portable perimetry, and spectacles. We aim to establish robust primary eye care systems in urban areas lacking essential support. Vidya Jyoti—The School Eye Health Programme This programme is dedicated to enhancing eye health among school children. Over the past five years, the programme has screened 14,93,397 students. We aim to integrate eye health into broader school health efforts, with key components including teacher training, service delivery, and eye health awareness, to screen, identify, and prevent vision issues from Grades I to XII. RAAHI - National Truckers Eye Health Programme As one of the largest eye health programmes in the country, RAAHI delivers essential eye care services directly to truckers. With over 49 sites along India’s major haulage routes, including the Golden Quadrilateral and North-South-East-West (NSEW) Corridor, the programme features static centres in transport hubs, outreach camps at key locations and mobile vision centres. We also have a cloud-based technology called the RAAHI App that enhances the delivery of eyecare services to truckers on the move. Inclusive Education Programme Sightsavers India promotes an inclusive environment for children with visual impairments by providing assistive devices, accessible materials, and skills training to both teachers and students while ensuring infrastructure accessibility. The Student Tracking Assessment and Reporting (STAR) App tracks the progress of children with visual impairments to strengthen the Inclusive Education programme, aiming to integrate them into mainstream education and ensure equal opportunities for all. Social Inclusion Programme Through this programme, Sightsavers India are committed to empowering people with disabilities by providing essential skills, tools, and support to help them achieve financial independence and lead fulfilling lives. Our Social Inclusion efforts focus on three core areas: Institution Building, Economic Empowerment, and Creating an Enabling Environment. We also adopt a comprehensive gender approach, offering adolescent girls self-defence training and health and hygiene education. In conclusion, Sightsavers India is committed to driving scalable change by transforming districts and cities through its evidence-based programmes. By cultivating strong collaborations with government bodies and partners, our approach is not only about immediate solutions but also about building a framework for long-term, systemic change across India.