By IANS
New Delhi : A global NGO has granted Rs.84 million for healthcare projects in India, mainly focusing on sight related problems.
Of this, almost Rs.78 million have been earmarked for various sight-related projects in the country, and Rs.3 million each for upgrading hospitals, conducting educational campaigns and medical projects, and for flood relief.
The Lions Clubs International Foundation decided on this spending pattern at a meeting of its top officials here Monday.
India has an estimated five million blind people, and about 45 million suffer from some form of visual impairment.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the meeting, at which two businessmen donated $100,000 each for the Lions Clubs International’s humanitarian projects.
The donors were L.S. Patil, managing director of the Patil Group of Industries, and Naresh Aggarwal, managing director of Star Overseas Ltd. Aggarwal is also the chairman of the host committee for the Delhi meeting.
Lions Club International President Mahendra Amarasuriya said: “We have received very enthusiastic response from India for our Sight First programme, which has a target of raising over $100 million (globally). More than $4 million has been raised from India so far.”
“This money will go towards construction and expansion of eye hospitals and training centres, funding two million cataract surgeries, expanding control activities for trachoma, diabetic retinopathy and other sight-illnesses,” he added.
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee lauded the Indian contribution.
“The $4 million contribution of Indian Lions is remarkable as well as motivating,” he said, adding: “Lions have contributed a lot to alleviate the problems of large sections of the population.”