Our charity work in India

We work with the government and partners in India and across South Asia to provide inclusive eye services and ensure everyone can claim their human rights.

India is the world’s most populated country and the seventh largest by area. It’s home to 1.3 billion people.

The country has one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, which has helped to significantly reduce extreme levels of poverty. However, many people face social inequality and live below the poverty line.

Free universal basic health care is available in all states. Yet due to a lack of awareness, a significant proportion of the population has little access to essential services like eye care, leaving many people with avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

Despite the nation’s recent advances, people with disabilities and women and girls still experience discrimination and stigma in society, which can affect their chance to gain an education, access health care and find work.

4.9 million people are estimated to be blind

70 million people have a visual impairment

2.21% of the population is thought to have a disability

Sources: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, Government of India

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What are the challenges in India, and how can these be addressed?

Eye care

India’s health care system needs extra funding to recruit qualified staff and boost essential resources.

Many people experience barriers when accessing basic health care services, which means they’re more likely to have a long-term health condition or a disability. Sightsavers’ eye health work in the country aims to provide inclusive eye care services by diagnosing and treating eye conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma.

Our eye care work in India

Rural eye screening

Regular screening can check people for eye conditions and refer them for treatment where needed. Our inclusive eye care programmes target rural communities and marginalised groups.
How we’re expanding eye care

Truckers’ programme

We run free eye clinics at roadsides for India’s five million truck drivers. Long hours away from home mean that many men are unable to access vital eye care, putting them and others at risk.
Meet the drivers we’ve reached

Cataract surgery

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in India, but a simple operation can restore sight. We provide operations for children and adults, enabling them to return to education and work.
Learn about cataracts

Inclusion and equality

Not everyone in India can claim their human rights.

People with disabilities and women and girls often face stigma and discrimination in society. Our charity work on disability rights in India focuses on improving everyone’s access to education, employment and health care opportunities.

Our inclusion work in India

Inclusive education

Sightsavers works with local governments to make schools more inclusive for students with disabilities by training teachers and providing adapted learning materials.
Learn about inclusive education

Employment and training

We work with organisations to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities, enabling them to learn new skills and earn a living. Visit the canteen run by people with disabilities

Working in collaboration

We support organisations of people with disabilities by providing skills training so they can advocate for their community, whether pushing for change at a local or national level. Our disability rights work

“The loveliest thing about my job is when somebody gets back their sight. Seeing their happy face is what makes me extremely happy.”

Community health worker Laboni sits next to a whirring fan.

Laboni, community health worker in the Sundarbans

How you can help

Our charity work in India is helping to ensure that everyone can access inclusive eye care services, but there’s still more we need to do.

With your support, we want to expand our eye health and social inclusion programmes to create a ripple effect in India, so everyone can learn, earn and thrive. To do this, we need your help.

Charity donations, legacies, corporate partnerships and gifts from charitable foundations are a vital source of funding for our programmes in India. We also welcome opportunities to work in partnership with governments, institutions and development organisations.

Contact us: If you have any questions about our work in India, would like more information about our programmes or wish to discuss ways you can donate or support us, email [email protected]

Latest stories from India

An eye health worker in a clinic holds up an eye test chart for a patient who is having her eyes screened.

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A patient is interviewed by a member of Sightsavers staff as part of a project.

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The project raises awareness of glaucoma in an effort to reduce the number of people going blind if their condition is left untreated.

Sightsavers, March 2022

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In Rajasthan in northern India, an initiative run by people with disabilities is providing fresh food for the community at low prices.

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A round-up of our work that your donations are helping to support, including news from India, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Malawi.

June 2021

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A campaign to protect school children from worm infections has been launched in Cameroon. Plus news from Burkina Faso, India and more.

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As the 17-year-long Seeing is Believing project comes to an end, Imran Khan goes behind the scenes to reveal why it has made such an impact.

Discover where Sightsavers works in Africa and Asia

Where we work

We protect sight, fight disease and make sure everyone can claim their rights.

Find out how your support can make a huge difference and change lives.

Sightsavers in India

4.9 million people are estimated to be blind

70 million people have a visual impairment

2.21% of the population is thought to have a disability

What are the challenges in India, and how can these be addressed?

Eye care