Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 9: Viklang Chhatra Trust (VCT), a voluntary organization for the welfare of handicapped and elderly, has appealed the J&K LG G C Murmu to make provision of cataract surgeries in all Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs).
The appeal has been made by the organization in an open letter addressed to the LG. In the letter, the organization said that the cataract is the major cause of blindness especially in rural and remote areas where even after passing 72 years of independence, no surgical facilities for 75% population of the UT has been provided for this curable disease leading to blindness.
“Eyesight being an attribute of life is the fundamental right of citizens guaranteed under the Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which the Government has not fulfilled. Though Viklang Chhatra Trust has come to rescue of the cataract victims and with the help of qualified eye surgeons of GMC Jammu and Health Department has organized 127 free cataract operation camps in far flung areas of Jammu province near the doorsteps of the patients and has restored the vision of more than 8500 eye patients,” the letter read.
The organization stated in the letter that during the eye camps, free pre and post operation medicines, Intra Ocular Lenses and spectacles were provided, lodging and boarding to the indoor patients and their escorts was also arranged during camp days, even without having any financial support (Grant-in-Aid) from the Government. The letter read that though this is the most humble contribution but it is just a burning candle in the ocean of darkness and the problem cannot be resolved without the help of the Government.
“In the light of the ruling of the Supreme Court, the Trust could not organize free eye operation camps in the rural areas due to non-availability of special eye operation theatres in Sub-District Hospitals as available theatres could not be utilized for the eye surgeries,” the organization regretted and appealed the LG to make provision of cataract surgeries in all Sub-District Hospitals and also appoint Eye Surgeons so that the vision of rural population groping in the dark can be restored.
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