Bengal government to provide free cataract surgeries and spectacles to all over next five years

The Bengal government on Tuesday (January 5) will be launching a project to provide free eye-care to millions of people across the state over the next five years. The project will enable 20 lakh cataract surgeries and distribute 8.25 lakh spectacles to the people of Bengal.

At a press conference, Banerjee said, “Under this scheme, 20 lakh elderly people will be extended the facility of cataract operations over the next five years, and 8.5 lakh spectacles will be provided free of cost.”
 

The Chief Minister named the new project ‘Choker Alo’. Mamata Banerjee also announced that students of all schools and colleges in the state would undergo free eye check-up under the scheme and 4 lakhs spectacles will be distributed to them in the next five years.

The program will start from Tuesday in 1,200 gram panchayats and 120 urban health centres. Eye camps will be held in these areas with more than 300 ophthalmologists working in tandem.
 

According to statistics, some 11 per cent people are blind and over 4 percent have low vision from among 18 lakhs specially abled persons in Bengal.

The scheme will benefit the poor and aged especially from remote areas as the state will set up camps in their localities.