A New Ray of Light: Joint Initiative of Jan Mitra Nyas, Shiv Nadar Foundation (Shiksha Plus Initiative) and R.J. Shankara Eye Hospital, Varanasi

Special Report: Free Eye Camp at Kathirav Panchayat Bhavan, Varanasi (September 2025)

Jointly Organized by Jan Mitra Nyas, Shiv Nadar Foundation (Shiksha Plus Initiative) & R.J. Shankara Eye Hospital, Varanasi

Introduction / प्रस्तावना

On 18 September 2025, Jan Mitra Nyas (जनमित्र न्यास), in collaboration with the Shiksha Plus Initiative of Shiv Nadar Foundation (शिव नाडार फाउंडेशन का शिक्षा प्लस इनिशिएटिव) and R.J. Shankara Eye Hospital, Varanasi (आर.जे. शंकरा आई हॉस्पिटल, वाराणसी), organized the fifth monthly free eye check-up camp (पाँचवाँ मासिक निःशुल्क नेत्र परीक्षण शिविर) at Kathirav Panchayat Bhavan, Varanasi (कठिराव पंचायत भवन, वाराणसी).

This camp was part of the ongoing initiative “A New Ray of Light – रोशनी की नई उम्मीद”, which integrates adult literacy (वयस्क साक्षरता), health literacy (स्वास्थ्य साक्षरता) and eye care services (नेत्र स्वास्थ्य सेवाएँ) for rural communities.

Key Data from the Camp / शिविर के मुख्य आँकड़े

• Patients Screened (परीक्षण किए गए मरीज): 34

• Cataract Cases Identified (मोतियाबिंद मामले पाए गए): 19

• Surgeries Completed (सफल ऑपरेशन): 15 (at R.J. Shankara Eye Hospital)

• Pending Surgeries (लंबित ऑपरेशन): 4 (scheduled for 21 September 2025)

👉 With this camp, the initiative has now reached 188 patients in total (कुल 188 मरीजों तक पहुँच) across five camps, restoring eyesight to 58 individuals (58 लोगों की आँखों में रोशनी लौटी) through cataract surgeries.

Human Impact / मानवीय प्रभाव

Patients who underwent successful surgeries returned for follow-up with not only restored vision (आँखों में फिर से रोशनी) but also visible joy and relief (चेहरे पर संतोष और मुस्कान). Many expressed gratitude, saying they can now resume daily work, reading, and social activities with dignity (दैनिक कार्य, पढ़ना-लिखना और सामाजिक जीवन गरिमा के साथ फिर से शुरू कर सकते हैं).

Stakeholder Contributions / हितधारकों का योगदान

• Jan Mitra Nyas (जनमित्र न्यास): Organized the camp, mobilized communities, managed on-ground operations.

• Shiv Nadar Foundation – Shiksha Plus Initiative (शिक्षा प्लस इनिशिएटिव): Linked adult literacy with health awareness, encouraged villagers to participate.

• R.J. Shankara Eye Hospital, Varanasi (आर.जे. शंकरा आई हॉस्पिटल): Provided doctors, paramedical staff, surgeries and follow-ups.

• Local Panchayat and Community (स्थानीय पंचायत और समुदाय): Hosted the camp at Kathirav Panchayat Bhavan and ensured participation of women, elderly, and marginalized groups.

Link to SDGs / सतत विकास लक्ष्यों से संबंध

• SDG 3 – Good Health & Well-being (अच्छा स्वास्थ्य): Preventing blindness through free screenings and cataract surgeries.

• SDG 4 – Quality Education (गुणवत्तापूर्ण शिक्षा): Adult literacy linked with health literacy.

• SDG 1 – No Poverty (गरीबी उन्मूलन): Restored eyesight improves livelihood opportunities.

• SDG 5 – Gender Equality (लैंगिक समानता): Women gained access to critical health services.

• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities (असमानता घटाना): Free eye care services reached marginalized rural communities.

• SDG 17 – Partnerships (साझेदारी): Collaboration between NGO, foundation, and hospital demonstrates impactful partnerships.

Expert Team / विशेषज्ञ दल

• Dr. Chetna (डॉ. चेतना) – Eye Specialist

• Neelu & Sakshi (नीलू और साक्षी) – Eye Assistants

• Pankaj Tripathi (पंकज त्रिपाठी) – Field Worker, supervised patient follow-ups

• Mangla Prasad (मंगला प्रसाद, JMN) – Camp Coordinator

• Arvind Kumar & Shivani Pathak (अरविन्द कुमार और शिवानी पाठक, JMN) – Registration and patient guidance

Conclusion / निष्कर्ष

The September 2025 eye camp at Kathirav Panchayat Bhavan once again demonstrated the strength of partnership between Jan Mitra Nyas, Shiv Nadar Foundation, and R.J. Shankara Eye Hospital. By screening 34 patients, identifying 19 cataract cases, and successfully operating on 15, the initiative continues to bring light and dignity back to rural lives.

This monthly camp is not just a health service (केवल स्वास्थ्य सेवा नहीं) but also a continuous process (निरंतर प्रक्रिया) of building health awareness, integrating literacy, and fulfilling the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals at the grassroots level.

Special Report: A New Ray of Light – Eye Camps by Jan Mitra Nyas, Shiv Nadar Foundation (Shiksha Plus Initiative) & R.J. Shankara Eye Hospital, Varanasi

Introduction / प्रस्तावना

Restoring eyesight is not just about health, it is about dignity, education, and livelihoods. With this vision, Jan Mitra Nyas (जनमित्र न्यास), in collaboration with the Shiksha Plus Initiative of Shiv Nadar Foundation (शिक्षा प्लस इनिशिएटिव, शिव नाडार फाउंडेशन) and R.J. Shankara Eye Hospital, Varanasi (आर.जे. शंकरा आई हॉस्पिटल, वाराणसी), has been organizing regular free monthly eye camps (निःशुल्क मासिक नेत्र शिविर) at Kathirav Panchayat Bhavan, Varanasi.

This ongoing initiative “A New Ray of Light – रोशनी की नई उम्मीद” links adult literacy (वयस्क साक्षरता) with health literacy (स्वास्थ्य जागरूकता) and eye health (नेत्र स्वास्थ्य), ensuring that rural communities benefit both educationally and medically.

Cumulative Progress So Far / अब तक की प्रगति

• Total Camps Organized (कुल शिविर): 5 (April–September 2025)

• Total Patients Screened (कुल मरीजों का परीक्षण): 188

• Cataract Cases Identified (मोतियाबिंद के मामले): 62

• Cataract Surgeries Completed (कुल ऑपरेशन): 58 (with free treatment at Shankara Eye Hospital)

• Pending Surgeries (लंबित ऑपरेशन): 4 (scheduled for 21 September 2025)

👉 Through these 5 camps, more than 188 villagers have benefited (188 ग्रामीण लाभान्वित हुए) and 58 regained their eyesight (58 लोगों की आँखों में रोशनी लौटी), enabling them to return to daily activities, education, and livelihoods.

Breakdown of Each Camp / शिविर-वार विवरण

1. Camp 1–4 (April–August 2025):

   • Patients screened: 154

   • Cataract cases identified: 43

   • Cataract surgeries completed: 43

2. Camp 5 (September 2025):

   • Patients screened: 34

   • Cataract cases identified: 19

   • Cataract surgeries completed: 15 (4 pending for 21 September 2025)

Human Impact / मानवीय प्रभाव

For many, restored vision meant a return to work (काम पर वापसी), reading and learning (पढ़ना-लिखना जारी रखना), and participating in community life with dignity (गरिमा के साथ सामाजिक जीवन में भागीदारी).

Patients who had lost hope expressed immense gratitude when they could once again see clearly. Villagers often said: “अब जीवन की रोशनी वापस आ गई – now the light of life has returned.”

Conclusion / निष्कर्ष

The five eye camps under “A New Ray of Light – रोशनी की नई उम्मीद” have shown that restoring eyesight is about more than vision—it is about restoring dignity (गरिमा), education (शिक्षा), and livelihood (आजीविका).

By screening 188 patients, identifying 62 cataract cases, and successfully completing 58 surgeries, this initiative has become a continuous process (निरंतर प्रक्रिया) of community empowerment.

The partnership between Jan Mitra Nyas, Shiv Nadar Foundation, and Shankara Eye Hospital is a living example of how local collaboration can achieve global goals (स्थानीय साझेदारी वैश्विक लक्ष्यों को साकार कर सकती है).