India Vision Institute (IVI), an Indian NGO working to eliminate vision impairment, prevent avoidable blindness and provide access to spectacles to those in need, has shared the gift of vision to the inmates of the Madurai Central Prison and Women’s Prison, and communities in Paapan Valasai, Sunnambur and Kilathari villages. In three days of vision campaign activities, 10-12 March, IVI vision screened 630 individuals, including 208 women and men inmates at the two prisons.
“IVI is delighted it could screen and provide glasses to prison inmates and villagers. We acknowledge the Department of Prisons for the necessary permissions to undertake the screenings and their support in managing the logistics and for the facilitation support of the Krupa Foundation,” said IVI’s CEO, Vinod Daniel. “The screenings are particularly beneficial to older inmates as, with vision issues, they find it difficult to read or write and engage in other productive activities if they don’t have access to a pair of spectacles.”
“Our screening activities are also proving to be useful in rural communities who have difficulty in getting access to vision screening. With the screenings and corrected vision through a pair of glasses, the adult population will be able to raise their work productivity levels, thereby improving their economic capability,” he added.
