Sankara Nethralaya and Lion’s Club of Central Madras conduct State Level Chess Tournament for the Visually Impaired
The Vision Enhancement Clinic (VEC) of Sankara Nethralaya and Lions Club of Central Madras organised the 2nd State Level Chess Tournament with technical support from the Tamil Nadu Braille Chess Association (TNBCA) for the visually impaired at Sankara Nethralaya, Nungambakkam, Chennai on 6thAugust 2022, from 8.30am onwards. The State level Chess Tournament for the visually impaired commemorated the 44thChess Olympiad and the 52nd Charter Nite Celebrations of Lions Club of Central Madras. Around 50 participants took part from all over Tamil Nadu. It is notable that in the women’s category there were about nine participants at the state-level.
Lion Mohammed Naveen, District Governor DIST.324M inaugurated the camp by lighting the Kuthuvillakku and playing the first move with young chess player Mohammed Jamir. Lion Thirumurugan S. President of the Club, Lion.S.Balasundaram, Chairman Charter Nite Committee and many members of the Club, and Dr Rashima, HOD – VEC started the event.
Mr Vignesh General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Braille Chess Association (TNBC) provided the technical support along with his team members. He is an international FIDE rated chess player, Arbiter, and Chess coach. He has arbitrated Chess tournaments at the international levels.
The chess tournament had four rounds under three categories such as under 17 years – Student, Women’s and Open. The atmosphere at the venue tournament was enthusiastic and many participants had travelled overnight to Chennai just for this tournament from the remote districts of Tamil Nadu. The event was sponsored by Mr.Dilip, and Mrs.Viji Dilip family.
The one-day tournament ended with the Prize Distribution Ceremony, held at 4:30 p.m. at Sankara Nethralaya. The occasion was graced by the chief guest Dr.J. Radhakrishnan, IAS, Principal Secretary for Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Department and the guest of honor Mr.B.Vijayakumar (visually impaired), Advocate. Dignitaries Dr Girish Shiva Rao (President – Sankara Nethralaya), Mr Dilip, Lion Mr Thirumurugan, Lion Balasundaram, Lion Rangarajan K, Lion.Dr.N.Muthukumaran and a large number of lions graced the occasion.
Ms Dhanalakshmi (VEC) welcomed the gathering, Lion Thirumurugan President gave the opening speech thanking Sankara Nethralaya and TNBCA for their generous support. Dr Rashima gave a brief about the event and shared the glimpses of the event to the audience.
Dr. Radhakrishnan was appreciative of this tournament and the participants. Also he said, that the participants may not have Vision in their Eyes, but, definitely they have Vision in their Hearts. Hence they prove their Mettle while they read or play. The Principal Secretary also congratulated the Organizers for holding the event at the same time as the 44th Chess Olympiad 2022. He also noted that Braille Chess needs to be promoted more.
Mr Vijayakumar, Advocate spoke on the history of the Chess Tournaments and expressed a desire for Chess Tournaments to be conducted between Persons with Good Vision and the Visually Impaired.
One of the international rated player Mr Jayaprakash R shared his views about the event. He said that the event was very well conducted professionally and wished this could happen periodically for encouraging the young chess players.
Dr. J Radhakrishnan awarded the cash prizes and certificates to the winners and participation Certificates to all. Many of the participants were FIDE rated international chess players, and it was a great experience to watch these players in action. Cash prizes were given to first 10 out of 30 players in the open category , first 6 out of 15 players in the under 17 category and first 5 out of 9 players in the women’s category.
Sankara Nethralaya thanks Lion’s Club of Central Madras for making this event a grand success and Lion R.Viswanathan and Lion.S. Balasundaram for coordinating this tournament at such short notice. Dr. Rashima A., HOD, Vision Enhancement Clinic and the professionals of the VEC team were pivotal to the success of the tournament.
Sankara Nethralaya USA Sponsors 2022 (MESU-Adopt a Village)
Sankara Nethralaya (SN) is a non-profit charity organization providing ophthalmic(eye) care to millions of patients throughout India for the last four decades. SN also provides ophthalmic education and India-centric research. Sankara Nethralaya USA was established back in 1988 to support the mission of Sankara Nethralaya.
The main goal of the Trust was to make our vision known to NRIs and seek their support for the Noble cause. Sankara Nethralaya USA is one of the trusted and well-respected charity organizations in the USA. The Trust also received Charity Navigator’s “Four Stars” highest rating for maintaining financial accountability and fiscal transparency for funds donated by donors and how they are utilized towards the stated cause.
Our two Mobile Eye Surgical Units (MESU) are operation theatres on wheels and have so far screened 110,761 patients and performed 20,407 surgeries in the remote villages of India.
70%of the population of our country lives in rural areas – many of them in accessible tribal areas. 70% of the Ophthalmologists practice in urban cities and towns. Many of the people living in rural areas are daily wage earners. From them to travel to the city will involve (1) expenses for the travel and stay in the city for themselves and an attendant (2) loss of wages for the number of days that they are in the city (3) loss of wages for the attendant. Unable to bear such a financial burden, many of them continue to live with blindness, which could be prevented, especially in the case of cataract.
The MESU project is designed to provide Quality, World-class eye care to the rural population, at their doorsteps, totally free of cost to them. This project is the “FIRST OF ITS KIND IN INDIA” and the only project that has been approved by the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to carry out the Cataract surgeries at the door-step of the rural indigent.
The Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU), was developed in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology and started serving the nation in 2012. A total of 94 camps have been conducted in South India with 13079 surgeries performed since inception.
Seeing through the ‘Eyes of the blind’
It’s practically impossible to imagine how a blind person struggles in day to day life. We can have a glimpse of it if we close our eyes for 10 seconds and feel the experience. Way back in 2000, our beloved Chief Dr. S.S. Badrinath conceived this idea of curing preventable blindness in a way no one could have ever thought of. There is a considerable poor population in our country who don’t have any accessibility to health care facilities especially eye care. Their poor eyesight makes them completely dependent on others for their survival, and they have to compromise on their self-esteem day in and day out. He thought of an idea in reaching out to these people at their doorstep and giving them an independent life.
It took almost 12 years for implementing this herculean task in collaboration with IIT Madras and that’s how the Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU) was born. There have been lots of ups and downs in its journey, and one of the biggest challenge was acceptance by the society. As any new idea takes a lot of time and effort to harmonize itself with the society, so did MESU.
It was February 2015. when I became a part of this project and would like to share my experience here. Many people used to ask me why can’t we screen the patients and bring them to the base hospital for surgeries like other hospitals do. So actually what is the main purpose of MESU? Let me tell you that for any patient who goes to the base hospital post screening, there is a minimum stay of 3 days and the hassle of commuting. Patients who are daily wage workers suffer financial loss also. Also, there should be someone to accompany them. This discourages a lot of patients and they postpone the surgery to a later date specially handicap patients, elderly, daily wage workers and women, which complicates their condition even more. Here in MESU, post screening they come next day morning for surgery and within 2 hours they are back home. Most importantly, all the patients are operated by senior consultants and not trainees, so the chances of complications are almost nil. Not only that, we examine the patients post operatively at the camp site itself the very next day and a week later also and free glasses are dispensed to them after a month. All the services are provided right at their doorstep totally free of cost. So patients find this setup very convenient and encourage others to come for surgery at MESU. Till date, we have operated 20,119 eyes including both in Chennai and Jharkhand units and out of these almost 20 percent of patients were handicap and nearly 70 percent elderly. Patients wait for us to come to the same venue for the second eye surgery and avoid going elsewhere. We do face challenges at various fronts, but it gives immense solace and satisfaction, when we see someone living an independent life.
I feel service is not only through your wallets, but you have to give a part of yourself also. I would like to conclude with the famous words of American President John F. Kennedy “ASK NOT WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR YOU. ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR GOD”.
DR GAJENDRA KUMAR VERMA
Giving Smart Vision to the Visually Impaired
Sankara Nethralaya in collaboration with Vision Aid, an international NGO working for the welfare of the visually impaired and the US based NGO, Trees for Life India, distributed 20 Smart Vision Glasses in the type of a Spectacle, for the Visually Impaired on 25th June 2022 at Sankara Nethralaya Main facility. Vision-Aid is a long-term partner with Sankara Nethralaya, collaborating on various vision rehabilitation programs including the programs and also skill development programs by the Vision Enhancement Clinic (VEC) at Sankara Nethralaya’s Shenoy Nagar campus.
The Smart Vision devices were presented to twenty visually impaired beneficiaries who are patients of the Low Vision Care Clinic (LVC) and VEC. The Smart Vision Glasses is an assistive device for the Visually Impaired and the blind. The device uses the latest technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Machine Vision to facilitate smooth execution of daily living tasks and enables the visually impaired to become aware of their surroundings, read a book in many Indian languages known to them, and provides walking assistance, etc.
The Chief Guest at the event was Mr. C. Govindakrishnan, the founder of Nethrodaya, also a visually impaired person. He spoke about his childhood spent visiting Sankara Nethralaya and his struggles through every step of his schooling, college education and onwards. He expressed his gratitude towards his family and SN family for being there every step of his journey.
The event for the distribution of the Smart Vision Glasses was graced by Mr VL Narasimhan, Voluntary Member Secretary, Mr Vijay Francis, Program Director, Ms Gargee Dutta, National Program Manager, and Ms Vineetha, Head of Training from Vision Aid India. Mr Ibrahim represented Mr. Ramu Muthangi, CEO of SHG Technologies and gave a brief introduction of the Smart Vision Devices. Dr Rashima A, Head of VEC briefed on the services offered at the Shenoy Nagar campus.
Several of the beneficiaries shared their experiences and thanked SN, LVC, and VEC for their unstinting support and hard work for the visually impaired community. Ms. Gayathri who has completed her B. ED has been coming to Vision Enhancement Clinic since she was 4 years old. Mr. S. H. Rao was a recent visitor to the VEC and spoke enthusiastically of the tireless efforts of all the staff who had helped him conquer his disability.
Dr. Girish S. Rao, President, Medical Research Foundation, and Mr. C. Govindarajan distributed the smart vision devices to the beneficiaries. Also present to encourage the beneficiaries were Lion. Harinarayanan, Dr. Anuradha N., Principal of Elite School of Optometry, and Dr. Anuja Singh, Principal of The Sankara Nethralaya Academy.
Proclamation to Sankara Nethralaya, Indra Nooyi
New York Mayor Proclamation to Sankara Nethralaya USA – Special Guest, Indra Nooyi – Sudha Ragunathan’s concert, raised $227,500.
Sankara Nethralaya USA organized Padma Bhsuhan Dr. Suda Ragunathan’s carnatic music concert in Hindu Temple Society of North America on June 19th, 2022, was a grand success. Dr. Suda Ragunathan shared her experiences with Sankara Nethralaya to a full house. Dr. Suda Ragunathan enthralled audience with popular Carnatic music songs.
Global legend Padma Bhushan awardee, Indian American Business Entrepreneur & former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi was the Keynote speaker. When Indraji was speaking huge response was received from the audience. She spoke highly about the organization, appealed the audience to open the wallet and donate generously to the noble cause to restore the vision to indigent blind patients.
Consulate General of India New York, Honorable Randhir Jaiswal is the Special Guest.
Proclamation from the Office of the Mayor City of New York – making June 19th is Sankara Nethralaya Day was presented to President Bala Reddy Indurti. He spoke about the history of Sankara Nethralaya and founders Padma Bhushan Dr. SS Badrinath and USA chapter Founder Sri SV Acharya. When he mentioned about recent 1 crore Rs from Smt Madu Gulati, who donated in memory of her parents-in-law, he received roaring response from the audience.
Mr. Dilip Chauhan, Assistant commissioner for international affairs, is a guest of honor to the NY concert who was instrumental in procuring the proclamation for Sankara Nethralaya.
Sankara Nethralaya New York chapter Board of Trustee (BOT) Dr. Raj Modi organized the event with the help of President Bala Reddy Indurti, Vice President Mr. Moorthy Rekapalli, Secretary Mr. Srinivas Ganagoni, and Board of Tustees Shankar Setty, and Sowmia Naarayan. Dr. Raj Modi and his wife Neelam Modi worked tirelessly to conduct this program successfully.
Thanks are due to Sowmia Narayan, Kamalakiran Vinjamuri, and Akshay Anantapadmanabhan for providing excellent music to back-to-back Suda Ragunathan’s concerts.
Thanks are due to the volunteers: Dr. Raj Modi’s wife Neelam Modi and his daughter Aparna Modi.
Thanks are due to the volunteers: Shankar Setty’s wife Sadhana, his daughter Shreekrutha and his Son in law Gigio Ninan.
Thanks are due to the volunteers: Dr Urmila Shivram, Ananda Iyar, Murli Iyar, Rahul Iyar, Pavithra Sundar, Meenu Sawhany, Anju Sharma, Sanjoo Sharma, Nilima Madan, Lalitha Sankaran, Chitra, Gina Shekhar, Shuba Rajgopal, Divya Shah, Sadhana Shankar, Sweekrutha Shankar, Gigio Ninan, Prameela Gopu, and Garikapati Seeta.
Thanks are due to media partners: Mana TV, TV Asia, Sakshi TV, TV5, US1, TeluguOne, GNN, and Singapore TV for promoting the mission of Sankara Nethralaya.
Thanks are due to Chennai team Mr. Theagarajan, Mr. Suresh Kumar, Mr. Deena Dayal for providing beautiful flyers and promoting the event for Morrisville PA and New York events.
We have raised $227,500.00 (Two hundred twenty-seven thousand and five hundred dollars) to restore the vision to 3,500 indigent blind patients in India.
MESU and Brand Ambassadors video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgp8Lu0gnuk
Recent activities and developments in Sankara Nethralaya in other parts of the world:
- Shri S. V. Acharya, President Emeritus, SNUSA was honored with the A Shama Rao Memorial Outstanding Achievers Award 2022 on Friday May 27 at the Srinivas University Mukka campus in Mangalore, India.
- Mr. Selva Jayaraman, Mrs. Leela Krishnamurthy, Mr. Anand Dasari, and Mr. Ravi Maraka sponsored Adopt-A-Village MESU 11-day programs successfully in their respective villages.
- For the second year in a row, Newsweek magazine has named Sankara Nethralaya as one of the best 100 hospitals in the world. Our fund-raising arm in US, Sankara Nethralaya USA was given the highest rating of four stars for the third year in a row by Charity Navigator.
- Our Newark Delaware team organized Padma Bhushan Dr. Sudha Raghunathan concert in Morrisville, PA in coordination with Chinmaya mission.
While we appreciate your support for the past four decades, we seek your continued support. You may donate your tax-deductible contributions by credit card or by check.
For more details and donations, please visit www.SankaraNethralayaUSA.org
Sankara Nethralaya (SN) is a non-profit charity organization providing ophthalmic(eye) care to millions of patients throughout India for the last four decades. Nethralaya also provides ophthalmic education and India-centric research. To support the mission of Sankara Nethralaya, Sankara Nethralaya USA was established back in 1988.
The main goal of the Trust creation was to have the NRIs support and contribute to the Noble cause. Sankara Nethralaya USA is one of the trusted and well-respected charity organizations in the USA. The Trust also received Charity Navigator’s “Four Stars” highest rating for maintaining financial accountability and fiscal transparency for funds donated by donors and how they are utilized towards the stated cause.
On an average, Sankara Nethralaya treats 3,000 outpatients and performs 300 surgeries/day almost half of them free on poor patients. Our two Mobile Surgical Units (operation theatres on wheels – only one of its kind in Asia) have so far screened 110,761 patients and performed 20,407 surgeries in the remote villages of India.
Program was concluded with New York Board of Trustee Dr. Raj Modi’s vote of thanks.
Please visit www.SankaraNethralayaUSA.org for more details.
To read the article on Great Andhra.com, please click here:-
https://www.greatandhra.com/articles/special-articles/proclamation-to-sankara-nethralaya-indra-nooyi-122109
To read the article on NRI Pulse.com, please click here:-
https://nripulse.com/nyc-mayor-proclaims-june-19-sankara-nethralaya-day-indra-nooyi-keynotes-event/
Sankara Nethralaya Deeply Mourns Smt. Kausalya Appukutty
Smt. Kausalya Appukutty, (85 years), Trustee, SWAN (SN Women’s Auxillary Wing) had attained her heavenly abode on 19-06-2022 at 10:50 am. Actively supporting her husband Dr. Appu Kutty, who had stood steadfast with Dr. S.S. Badrinath’s passionate mission to help the ‘Blind See’ since its inception.
From passionately involving in the growth of SWAN, her volunteering initiatives, selfless community services and the donation of Dr. V. G. Appukutty campus in Guindy were some of her humanitarian services that speak laurels of her innate nature. Donating her eyes to Sankara Nethralaya had again proved her philanthropic nature. Her core nature of generosity, meticulousness, punctuality, kindness, dedication and gratitude had truly reflected the values and ideals nurtured by Sankara Nethralaya’s visionary leadership of Dr. S.S.Badrinath.
We, the family of Sankara Nethralaya would always remember her untiring efforts and sincerely pray to the Almighty for her noble soul to attain Mukthi!
Mr. Asif Iqbal, Senior Optometrist, Department of Contact Lens wins IACLE Travel Award 2022 (International category).
International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) Travel Awards is an annual award, enables IACLE educator members to travel national, regional, or international contact lens meetings.
For this award the educators have to demonstrate their commitment to IACLE, utilization of its resources, programs and events, as well as the impact they have had on their institutions and students. The applicants also have to describe their achievements in contact lens education and also how they would apply the information gained in their teaching.
We are proud to announce that Mr. Asif Iqbal, Senior Optometrist, Department of Contact Lens, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, have bagged the IACLE Travel Award 2022 (International category). Mr Asif will receive a bursary up to US$3000 towards the cost of attending conference and a certificate to mark the award. The award will be presented at the American Academy of Optometry meeting in San Diego, USA (October 26-29) during the International Reception.
Sankara Nethralaya family congratulates Mr. Asif iqbal for making SN proud.
Sankara Nethralaya and Lions Club of Central Madras welcome Ms. Danielle Hormillosa, Global Grants Specialist of Lion’s Club International
Ms.Danielle Hormillosa, MPH, Global Grants Specialist, Global Grants Department, Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF), visited Sankara Nethralaya on Monday, 6th June 2022.
For over two decades, Lions Club of Central Madras, Sankara Nethralaya and Lions Club International Foundation have collaborated through the Sight First grants in the fight against avoidable blindness. Through these grants, Sankara Nethralaya has offered free cataract surgeries, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and even trained ophthalmologists from Lions’ Eye Hospital.
Ms. Danielle Hormillosa was welcomed by Lion. N. S. Sankar, Past International Director, Lion. S. V. Manickam, Dist. Governor 324M, Lion. Mohammed Naveen, First Vice Dist. Governor, Lion. M. Sridhar, Second Vice Dist. Governor, Lion.G.V.Raman Past District Governor and large number of Members of Lions Club of Central Madras, Dist 324M.
Dr. Girish Shiva Rao, Chairman, Dr. T. S. Surendran, Vice- Chairman and Director of Paediatric Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajesh P. S, Senior Consultant, in charge C. U. Shah Sankara Nethralaya & MESU, and Dr. Rajiv Raman, Senior Consultant Shri BhagwanMahavirVitreoretinal Services were also present to introduce Sankara Nethralaya and our community activities.
Mr. Suresh Kumar P., General Manager, Operations, gave the welcome address followed by a brief introduction by Past District Governor, Lion. G. V. Raman about the partnership between Lions Club of Central Madras and Sankara Nethralaya since 1998.
Dr. T. S. Surendran, Vice Chairman and Director of Paediatric Ophthalmology, spoke about Sankara Nethralaya’s journey over four decades and our various community initiatives, including Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU).
Dr. Rajesh P. S., Senior Consultant, In charge- CUSSN & MESU, elaborated on the very first Sight First grant, which enabled SN to perform 10,000 nos. cost free cataract surgeries per annum utilizing the upgraded facilities and equipment.
Dr.Rajiv Raman, Senior Consultant, Dept. of Vitreo Retinal Services presented a detailed report of the LCIF -SN Dream project funded by LCIF and spoke about the usefulness and impact of the project on creating Awareness on Diabetic Retinopathy and its treatment. He also gave a brief outline of the research project on the compliance of the Diabetic Retinopathy patients for subsequent follow-up and treatment.
Thereafter, Dr. Rajiv Raman invited questions from Ms. Hormillosa and the assembled Lions members. The Grants Specialist asked insightful questions regarding the DR project and requested that any research papers be sent to the HQ after publication.
Dr. G. Suganeswari, Senior Consultant, Vitreoretinal and Oncology Services presented the Project onDiabetic Retinopathy Skill Transfer Training Program, funded by LCIF.
Twenty four ophthalmologists from Lions Eye Hospitals from various parts of India entered the two-month training program.
The project was different as it focussed on practising Ophthalmologists rather than young and freshly minted Ophthalmologists. Many found it difficult to spare their time, as the program required them to be at SN for two months.
Lion S.N.Harinarayanan,Project Coordinator was instrumental in recruiting the participants for the program.
The event closed with Lion. K. Rangarajan, Past President, Lions Club of Central Madras proposing a formal vote of thanks.
Shri S. V. Acharya Honoured with A. Shama Rao Outstanding Achiever’s Award – 2022
Shri S. V. Acharya, President Emeritus, SNUSA was honoured with the A Shama Rao Memorial Outstanding Achievers Award 2022 on Friday May 27 at the Srinivas University Mukka campus.
On receiving this high recognition for his socially responsible community activities, Shri S. V. Acharya said, “Three things should have more emphasis in life. Time, help and wealth. Give time for yourself and help who are yours when they need, earn and use your wealth to communicate on a large scale.”
The Vice President of A Shama Rao Foundation and Pro Chancellor of Srinivas University Dr. A. Srinivas Rao, was the chief guest at this momentous occasion. In his address to the gathering, he appreciated Shri Acharya, saying, “Mr. Acharya works in the financial field, but is doing social work in the USA through Sankara Nethralaya. His service is always commendable.”
Dr. C. A. A. Raghavendra Rao, Chancellor of Srinivas University and President of A Shama Rao Foundation, led the awards presentation ceremony. He observed, “The man with the sight for the vision is Shri Sagri Vasudeva Acharya. The Shakti behind him is his wife, Nirmala Acharya. Performance is only possible when you are satisfied with any task.”
Shri S. V. Acharya’s wife, Smt. Nirmala Acharya, accompanied by their son and daughter-in-law, Shri Acharya’s sister and husband were present at the occasion.
Watch here: – https://youtu.be/CqsXj5ZZbvc
Sankara Nethralaya Bags Netra Samrakshak Award (Legendary Institution for Community Services)
PRID Rtn Dr. Manoj Desai and DG Rtn. Fazal Mahmood presented Sankara Nethralaya with the Netra Samrakshak (Legendary Institution for community services) award. Dr. Veena Baskaran, Head of Community Services received the award on behalf of our institution and thanked everyone for their support towards this noble cause.
The award was presented at the first ever Rotary National community ophthalmology conference organised by Rotary International District 3190 And Rotary Avoidable Blindness Foundation (Chairman Mr. M. Ravikumar) was held in J.N. Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science, Benguluru on May 21 -22 2022.
Sankara Nethralaya family’s heartfelt thanks goes to all the opthalmologists, nurses, and staff who make our mission a reality each day.