India will provide 33.90 million rupees to Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh for eye care program. Indian Embassy and  Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh ((NNJS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for providing Indian grant assistance of NRs. 33.90 million to NNJS for eye care program in various districts of Nepal. The MoU will cover the cost of conducting 15,000 cataract surgeries through mobile screening camps to be organized in various districts of Nepal.

“Government of India has been providing assistance to NNJS for eye care program in Nepal as part of the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Program since 2001. Under the program, over one lakh people have so far been cured of cataract and trachoma and optical devices/spectacles have been distributed to over 37,000 school going children. A mobile eye care van duly fitted with ophthalmic equipment was also gifted to NNJS for implementation of this program in 2009,” says a press release of Indian Embassy.

NNJS is an apex voluntary organization, recognized by Government of Nepal as a National Society for Comprehensive Eye Care having 14 eye hospitals, 50 eye care centers, 250 community-based organizations under its umbrella in various districts of Nepal. It is expected that this grant assistance would go a long way in addressing the curable eye problems/blindness being faced by the people of Nepal.

Government of India’s assistance to Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh is part of the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Program which has an outlay over 65 billion with the more than 450 large and small development projects completed or currently being implemented in almost all the districts of Nepal. These development projects mainly in the sectors of education, health and infrastructure development have been undertaken in response to local needs, and in partnership with the Government of Nepal.