In the small town of Burnpur, in the Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal, the lives of two young students were about to be transformed by a remarkable eye care initiative.
Fourteen-year-old Kalpana Bhuiya cycles over five kilometers daily to attend Mahatma Gandhi High School. The daughter of a paint worker and a domestic helper, Kalpana’s dedication to her studies was evident, yet her academic struggles left her teachers puzzled. Despite her hard work, something seemed to be holding her back.
At the same school, ten-year-old Virat Rajak faced an even greater challenge. His father supports their family of six through mobile phone repairs. Virat has been living with vision in only one eye – a condition that neither he, nor his family knew about – until a crucial screening program arrived at their school.
On August 30, 2024, the Asansol Axis Lions Club of District 322C3 brought the Sight for Kids program to their school. During routine screenings, the medical team discovered Kalpana’s vision impairment and Virat’s cataract. This life-changing intervention underscores the importance of the long-term collaboration between Johnson & Johnson Vision and LCIF (Lions Clubs International Foundation). Together, they bring professional eye care to children who might otherwise never have access to it.
The program’s impact across District 322C3 has been nothing less than record-breaking. In August alone:
- Asansol Puspanjali Lions Club screened 2,808 students in eight schools, identifying 103 children needing glasses.
- Asansol Axis Lions Club screened 2,950 students in ten schools, finding 68 children requiring vision correction.
Several other clubs across District 322C3, including the Lions Clubs of Asansol Youth, Asansol East, Purulia Manbhum, Murarai, Paikar, Bankura Central, and Panagarh Bazar, have collectively screened 20,000 schoolchildren over the past three months. Of these, more than 1,000 children required further treatment or spectacles, both of which are being provided by the Lions.
The Implementation Process
The success of the Sight for Kids program hinges on a systematic approach:
- Form a dedicated committee.
- Coordinate dates with Johnson & Johnson’s team.
- Partner with interested schools.
- Host and support the screening team.
- Facilitate school visits and screenings.
- Document findings comprehensively.
- Coordinate eyewear delivery.
- Distribute glasses to identified students.
- Submit detailed reports to the District Coordinator.
Through this systematic approach, the program ensures children like Kalpana and Virat receive the care they need to see clearly and reach their full potential. Every pair of glasses represents not just improved vision, but a new opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.
With inputs from: Ambika Mukhopadhyay,
DC-Sight for Kids, District 322C3