Question : CONTROL OF BLINDNESS

(a) whether the Government have initiated any fresh action plan for the control of blindness in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the States which have been identified by the Union Government where this programme needs to be taken up on war footing;

(d) whether the Government have received any proposals from State Governments for financial assistance to control blindness or setting up of Regional Institute of Opthalmology in their respective States;

(e) if so, financial assistance provided so far during the last three years and this year, State-wise; and

(f) the steps taken in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)

(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. The Plan of Action for implementing National Programme for Control of Blindness during Xth Plan has been prepared and being submitted for approval of EFC/CCEA. It has been prepared in accordance with outlines of Global Vision 2020: The Right to Sight initiative launched by WHO and numerous countries. The Plan includes controlling blindness due to cataract, glaucoma, diabetes and refractive errors. Special focus will be on prevention and control of blindness in children.


(c) National Programme for Control of Blindness is being implemented throughout the country. Special attention is required in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir and Orissa where eye care services are not fully developed and performance is low.

(d) Physical targets and budget allocation are made in accordance with requirements of the States. No proposal has been received from State Governments for setting up new Regional Institute of Ophthalmology.

(e) & (f) Funds released during last 3 years and budget allocated during current financial year 2002-03 is given at Annexure I.

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR CONTROL OF BLINDNESS Released during IXth Plan

STATES Release Release Release Total Allocation
Release for 2000-2003
(1999- (2000- (2001-	2000) 2001) 2002)
North Eastern States
Arunachal 15.00 31.50 28.65 75.15 19.00
Pradesh
Assam 81.50 182.90 57.50 321.90 105.70
Manipur 9.00 41.60 36.15 86.75 24.00
Meghalaya 21.00 60.10 66.00 147.10 24.00
Mizoram 26.50 55.40 25.30 107.20 29.00
Nagaland 14.00 40.58 47.15 101.73 24.00
Sikkim 15.25 26.60 5.60 47.45 13.00
Tripura 35.39 68.80 372.20 476.39 45.65
Sub Total 217.64 507.48 638.55 1363.67 284.35
Other States
Bihar 154.58 329.92 86.00 570.50 260.00
Punjab 199.61 117.60 55.20 372.41 135.00
Goa 14.50 41.20 18.70 74.40 30.00
Gujarat 404.50 384.00 142.04 930.54 215.00
Haryana 169.27 178.00 102.00 449.27 119.05
Himachal 86.25 131.00 37.00 254.25 83.00
Pradesh
Jammu & 40.75 106.50 80.80 228.05 83.00
Kashmir
Jharkhand 0.00 0.00 15.30 15.30 160.00
Karnataka 352.20 290.20 259.20 901.60 273.00
Kerala 263.39 270.50 124.50 658.39 160.00
West Bengal 194.10 275.00 123.40 592.50 210.00
Sub Total 1879.15 2123.92 1044.14 5047.21 1728.05
UTs
A & Nicobar 10.67 3.75 8.10 22.52 8.00
Chandigarh 11.44 11.00 8.00 30.44 8.00
D & N Haveli 2.50 3.75 5.80 12.05 8.00
Daman & Diu 9.40 4.75 4.50 18.65 8.00
Lakshadeep 5.72 3.75 4.60 14.07 8.00
Pondicherry 20.82 14.50 5.75 41.07 13.00
Delhi 42.40 38.13 13.00 93.53 42.00
Sub Total 102.95 79.63 49.75 232.33 95.00
World Bank Project States
Andhra Pradesh 434.40 521.00 835.80 1791.20 615.00
Madhya Pradesh 880.81 806.13 498.00 2184.94 405.00
Maharashtra 664.88 581.00 836.00 2081.88 365.00
Orissa 420.25 1107.00 300.00 1872.25 310.00
Rajasthan 314.18 856.00 912.00 2082.18 291.00
Tamil Nadu 1009.82 857.00 1742.25 3609.07 815.00
Uttar Pradesh 839.32 603.00 2098.23 3540.55 415.00
Chhatisgarh - - 127.00 127.00 160.00
Sub-Total 4563.66 5331.13 7449.28 17344.07 3606.00
Grand Total 6763.40 8042.16 9181.72 23987.28 5713.40