Arti Singh Rao launches ‘Ujjwal Drishti Haryana Abhiyan’ drive from Hisar
Health Minister Arti Singh Rao today launched the ‘Ujjwal Drishti Haryana Abhiyan’ from the campus of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST), Hisar. The campaign aims to provide free spectacles to schoolchildren and near vision correction to citizens above 45 years of age across the state.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister said the campaign is being run under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment and is backed by a special budget allocation from the state government.
“This is the largest and first-of-its-kind campaign in the country. Over 1.4 lakh spectacles will be distributed through 22 district hospitals, 50 sub-divisional hospitals and 122 community health centres across the state,” she said.
Under the campaign, eye check-ups will be conducted for nearly 21 lakh students enrolled in 14,267 government schools and free glasses will be given to approximately 40,000 children who require vision correction.
Additionally, citizens above 50 years will undergo cataract screening and those in need will be provided free surgeries in government hospitals or partnered NGO-run facilities.
Virtually addressing programmes held in other districts, the Health Minister emphasised that the initiative goes beyond distributing spectacles.
“This programme is not limited to eye check-ups and free glasses. It is a concrete step towards building a self-reliant, equal and healthy Haryana. Our goal is not just to restore eyesight but to make the future of Haryana bright,” she said.
Highlighting the seriousness of untreated vision defects, she said, “Vision problems are the second leading cause of blindness after cataract. If not treated on time, they can lead to permanent loss of vision. This campaign is set to become a national example.”
The Minister shared that Haryana is the only state to offer Rs 15,000 assistance for free corneal transplants at private and NGO hospitals. She said, “More than 800 corneal transplants are conducted every year in Haryana, which is a national record.”
To support this, the state operates 22 eye donation centres. Appealing to the public, Rao urged, “Come forward to donate eyes. Your one donation can light up someone’s entire world.”
She reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the health infrastructure of the state through modern equipment, mobile medical units and telemedicine services.
Haryana Tribune