Restoring Vision Every Month: Jan Mitra Nyas–PVCHR Permanent Eye Care Initiative in Varanasi

Access to basic eye care remains a major challenge for poor and elderly communities in rural areas. To address this gap, Jan Mitra Nyas and PVCHR have been jointly running a permanent monthly Eye Check-up Camp in Varanasi, with support from the Shiksha Plus Initiative of the Shiv Nadar Foundation. This sustained initiative ensures that eye care is not a one-time intervention but a continuous community health service for the most vulnerable.

As part of this ongoing programme, an Eye Camp was organized on 15 January 2026 at the Panchayat Bhawan, Kathiraon, in collaboration with R. J. Sankara Eye Hospital. The camp focused on early detection and treatment of eye diseases among poor, elderly, and marginalized people. A total of 40 beneficiaries (25 women and 15 men) received eye examinations. Medical screening identified several cataract cases along with co-morbid conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. After clinical assessment, 13 patients were referred for cataract surgery at R. J. Sankara Eye Hospital, Harhua, while 32 previously operated patients received follow-up check-ups, most reporting significant improvement in vision and daily functioning.

The camp was coordinated by Jan Mitra Nyas with strong community outreach by literacy educators, ensuring that elderly and immobile patients could access services. The medical team conducted examinations with care and dignity, reinforcing trust between healthcare providers and the community. This monthly model allows timely referrals, regular follow-up, and continuity of care—critical for preventing avoidable blindness.

Learners as Beneficiaries and Family-Level Impact

Adult literacy learners associated with Jan Mitra Nyas play a central role in this permanent eye care initiative. Learners serve both as direct beneficiaries and as care facilitators for their family members, particularly elderly parents and relatives. Ongoing analysis shows that literacy empowers learners to identify eye problems at an early stage, understand medical advice, support timely hospital referrals, and ensure proper post-surgery care at home. As a result, the benefits of the eye camp extend well beyond individual patients, leading to improved health awareness and positive care-seeking behavior at the family level. The reach of this initiative has expanded across more than 20 kilometers, with active participation from neighboring districts, including Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi).

Community Oath and Collective Action Against Child Marriage

Alongside health interventions, Jan Mitra Nyas and PVCHR—supported by the Shiksha Plus Initiative—are leading a community-wide campaign against child marriage. A defining moment of the eye camp was the collective public oath taken by all participants, led by PVCHR senior staff member and social activist Mr. Mangala Prasad Rajbhar. Through this oath, participants pledged to oppose child marriage within their families and communities, reinforcing the understanding that protecting children is a shared social responsibility.

This commitment was more than symbolic. It represented moral accountability, community solidarity, and a shared vision to safeguard children—especially girls—from early marriage, interrupted education, and lifelong inequality. The oath transformed a health camp into a platform for social change, linking physical well-being with child rights and dignity.

Institutional Strength and Government Partnership

The credibility and sustainability of this initiative are strengthened by the institutional role of PVCHR, which is an active member of the District Committee for the Elimination of Child Marriage, constituted by the district administration. Further reinforcing this effort, Varanasi has established a District Child Marriage Free India Steering Committee, bringing together government departments and civil society organizations, including PVCHR, ASMITA, SRF, and Pratyan, to coordinate strategy, monitoring, and prevention.

PVCHR’s long-standing work in child rights, community awareness, and anti–child marriage advocacy positions it as a key stakeholder in ensuring that policies translate into meaningful action at the community level. A detailed analytical report on this initiative is forthcoming, documenting community participation, learner engagement, and family-level impact.

Moving Forward

The Shiksha Plus Initiative of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, implemented by Jan Mitra Nyas in Badagaon Block, Varanasi, represents a holistic model of grassroots development that integrates adult literacy, health access, and community leadership. By strengthening human capabilities at the village level—especially among women, elderly persons, and marginalized families—the initiative contributes directly to inclusive state building and national development priorities. Through linkages with essential services such as eye care and rights awareness, the programme advances the Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), demonstrating how localized implementation can generate long-term, scalable social impact.

The permanent monthly Eye Camp reflects Jan Mitra Nyas and PVCHR’s commitment to sustainable, community-led healthcare, where literacy, health, and dignity are deeply connected. With continued support from the Shiv Nadar Foundation, this initiative is restoring vision—month by month—and strengthening families across rural Varanasi.