Sankara Foundation: Evolving Eye Care Triumph
The journey began in 1977 under the guidance of R. V. Ramani, starting with a single hospital. Today, Sankara Eye Foundation India has expanded to 13 hospitals across 10 states in India, with a track record of screening over 6.2 million patients and seven million children. The foundation has performed over 2.4 million free eye surgeries and introduced Vision Centres equipped with Tele Ophthalmology technology.
The community outreach model currently spans 14,000 villages in 84 districts across seven states in India and is poised for further growth under the Vision 2020 initiative.
Establishing the required infrastructure and equipment was indeed a challenge for Ramani. To address this, Sankara Eye Foundation India added a new name - the Sankara Academy of Vision - as its capacity-building arm. In this process, the focus was not only on imparting technical knowledge but also on cultivating the right work culture, according to Ramani.
“With a proven track record, it has become easier for the foundation to attract funds. Financial support from like-minded institutions and families is increasingly forthcoming," said Ramani.
“Raising funds will never be a challenge for Sankara Foundation, as when you have multiple hands raised together in support. This has been proven as the foundation receives constant support from several foundations and NGOs like Sight Savers International, Bajaj Foundation in Indore, and support from the Chanrai family under the Mission for Vision Trust Programme, in addition to support from the Tata Group, Microsoft, and Arm Technologies for eye care. They support us by helping conduct subsidised surgeries for needy people through funds as well as technology,” he added.
