By Quaid Najmi Mumbai, December 25, : .Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar turned 60 today.
She was busy planning her celebrations and made sure that about 100 “sightless”, poor people had a brighter future.
Officials said that Pednekar gave a remarkable gesture by donating Rs 10,00,000 as a personal gift to the Vision Foundation of India.
This money will be used to provide free eye surgery for up to 100 people.
VFI, a 28-year old institution that has performed more than 5,60,000 eye surgery for those less fortunate in 19 States and 2 Union Territories under its Rashtriya Natra Yagna (launched in 2015), will use the funds to pay for VFI’s Rashtriya Nitra Yagna.
VFI had previously operated on over 560,000 patients in these states and two Union Territories.VFI has a goal of reaching 11-lakh surgeries in eleven years.
Today is my 60th birthday.Recently, my life was blessed by a grandchild.”In the spirit of service to people, as I am blessed with double joy, this is what I’ve done.I gave Drishti Sanjeevani to those in need,” smiled Pednekar.
She was a Shiv Sena politician and nurse who won accolades during the Covid-19 epidemic.
In presence of Chandrashekhar Choir, Joint Municipal Commissioner, Dr Kulin Kulin Kothari handed over the cheque.
The Mayor was very appreciative of VFI’s services, which have been providing all kinds of eye-care and surgeries all across the country.
VFI will provide the treatment for those who are less fortunate and have vision impairments such as poor eyesight, cataracts or glaucoma.
VIF will provide all necessary services, including pre-examinations and surgeries.
VFI, Dr Kothari stated, was established in 1993.It provides medical care, surgeries, and medicines to underprivileged individuals who cannot access eye treatment.This includes people living in remote areas and tribes through the 60+ collaborative centres located around the country.
The VFI’s goal is to identify the cause of blindness quickly and to provide emergency treatment.”Though we do work across India, 20% of our work takes place in Maharashtra,” Dr Kothari said.
Afzal Varaliya, VFI Manager, said that the NGO also has major initiatives such as Sugar N Sight for Diabetics and Mumbai Urban Slum Eye Care for hutment dwellers living in half a dozen Slum-pockets.Child Eye for children is available, along with one Mobile Eye Clinic for those in the slums of Mumbai.
VFI performed over 1,000 eye surgery on officers and provided eye checks for more than 10,000 cops.It also runs the Navnet Shah Eye Bank, where retina donations are regularly received, and a Primary Rural Vision Care Centre in Thane, Palghar, which offer free services.
Varaliya stated that VFI team members work with charitable or social groups and corporations to organize eye camps at hospitals, or elsewhere to provide the best eye-care for the poor.
You can reach Quaid Najmi at: Q.najmi@ians.in
qn/shb/
#Visionary #Mumbai #Mayor #Kishori #Pednekar #Hari #Maharashtra #Mumbai #Thane #Zen #Covid-19
.
