NEW YORK (TIP): The Tribe4Ideas & Blitz India Media, on June 8, hosted a significant event at the India Habitat Centre titled “World Without Childhood Blindness,” supported by Rotary International District 3011, the Eye Foundation of America (EFA), Goutami Eye Institute (GEI) along with Young Ophthalmologists Society Of India and Grant Thornton . The event marked a collaborative effort to combat childhood blindness and promote awareness and action towards this critical issue.
The event commenced with a warm welcome address by Richa Jain Kalra, EFA Ambassador, setting the tone for a day dedicated to impactful discussions and collaborations. Grant Thornton Bharat released the “Impact Snapshot,” a comprehensive report highlighting the substantial work done by GEI and EFA over the years. Partner GT Abhishek Tripathi shared key highlights from the report, underscoring the achievements and future goals of Goutami Eye Institute and Eye Foundation of America.

A special address was delivered by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Former Secretary to the Government of India and currently leading the Anil Agarwal Foundation. Renowned as the father of CSR in India for his pivotal role in drafting the CSR Act, Dr. Chatterjee emphasized the critical role of corporate social responsibility in addressing childhood blindness.
Dr. VK Raju, Founder President of EFA and Chairman of GEI, spoke passionately about the mission to create a world without childhood blindness. In a significant moment, he announced the Robert Murphy Award on behalf of the EFA board to Padma Bhushan Dr. Varaprasad Reddy, Former Chairman of Shantha Biotechnics, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the field.
District Governor 2024-25, Dr. Mahesh Trikha, took the stage to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EFA and GEI, launching the Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Program in Delhi. Dr. Trikha emphasized the necessity of the ROP program and reaffirmed Rotary District 3011’s commitment to support this crucial initiative.

Two additional MoUs were signed on this occasion with Chiranjiv Medical Foundation led by Dr Vivek Sama to jointly set up Vision & ROP centre and LensBus “OPD Eye Care On Wheels” led by Mr Akshay Shastri to jointly run eye screen camps in Delhi NCR region.
The event also featured two insightful panel discussions. The first panel included senior ophthalmologists from AIIMS and the Young Ophthalmologists Society of India, who discussed the latest advancements and strategies in pediatric eye care. The second panel involved corporate CSR heads from large organizations, deliberating on the importance of engaging, supporting, and running awareness programs on ROP.

The program concluded with closing remarks by PDG Kishore from Rotary International District 3020, summarizing the day’s discussions and reinforcing the commitment to eradicating childhood blindness. The entire event curation was led by Rtn Sandeepp Saxena, Country Director of EFA, and mentored by Rtn Deepak Dwivedi, whose guidance was instrumental in its success. The event was well attended by over 40 leaders from the stakeholders community large corporates, Rotary district leadership and leading ophthalmologists.
This event not only highlighted the critical need to address childhood blindness but also showcased the power of collaboration among various stakeholders, including medical professionals, corporate entities, and dedicated organizations.