(a) whether India is one of the countries worst affected by blindness;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the number of blind persons in thecountry, particularly in the rural areas,
State/UT-wise;
(d) the funds allocated and spent to deal with the problem of blindness during each
of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
(e) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to check the
rising number of cases of blindness in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ABU HASEM KHAN CHOUDHURY)
(a) & (b): As per estimates, based on the survey 2001-04 conducted under the National
Programme for Control of Blindness, there are 12 million blind people in the country
(visual acuity less than 6/60 in the better eye with available correction).
As per the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates (Global Data on Visual Impairment
2010) out of the total 39.36 million blind persons (Visual Acuity
Cataract is the major cause of blindness in India, responsible for around two third of
blindness. Rising population over the years with high life expectancy is the major reason
for increase of blind population in the country.
(c) A statement showing estimated number of blind persons in the country, State/UT-wise,
on the basis of survey conducted under National Programme for Control of Blindness, is given
at Annexure-I.
(d) A statement showing funds allocated and spent under the National Programme for Control
of Blindness (NPCB) during 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and the current year (2012-13 till date),
State/UT-wise, is given at Annexure-II.
(e) The steps taken/major activities undertaken under National Programme for Control of
Blindness to check the rising number of cases of blindness in the country include:
i) Reduction in the backlog of blind persons by active screening of population by
organizing screening eye camps and transporting operable cases to fixed eye-care facilities
for operation/treatment;
ii) Performance of cataract operations through Government and Non-Governmental Organization
(NGO) Eye Hospitals;
iii) Treatment of other eye diseases like, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma management, laser
techniques, corneal transplantation, vitreo-retinal surgery, treatment of childhood blindness
etc. as new initiatives;
iv) Involvement of private practitioners in eye care services;
v) Screening of children for identification and treatment of refractive errors and
distribution of free spectacles to those suffering from refractive errors under School
Eye Screening Programme;
vi) Collection of donated eyes for corneal transplantation and development/strengthening
of eye banking services;
vii) In-service training to eye surgeons in various fields of ophthalmology for development
of skills;
viii) Strengthening/developing of eye-care infrastructure at various levels to improve quantity
and quality of eye-care services.