PICTURE this. In a dusty village in rural Rajasthan, 95-year-old Imrati Devi sits alone in her rundown mud hut, trapped in almost total darkness. Her advanced cataract has left her with just a faint sense of light, no shapes, no faces, nothing. She fumbles around with shaky hands, banging into walls and tripping over the uneven floor, her body covered in bruises from falls no one helps with. Imrati Devi’s life has been one long sacrifice for her four sons. She raised them through tough times. But now, when she needs them most, they are unable to even provide her basic treatment. Blindness for Imrati Devi isn’t just losing sight, it’s the crushing reminder of being neglected by the family she built. Her story is just one of thousands of such elderly parents. But these stories can change with your support.
India’s silent blindness epidemic
Cataract remains the leading cause of blindness in India. According to the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), WHO data, and recent surveys, it accounts for 66–80% of all blindness cases, especially among those aged 50 and above. Over 4.8–5 million Indians live with blindness, with cataract responsible for roughly 3–3.5 million cases.
India performs an impressive 8–9 million cataract surgeries annually (FY 2022-23 saw over 83 lakh, and targets continue to rise). Yet the backlog persists, particularly in rural and low-income pockets. The surgery itself is one of modern medicine’s greatest successes, a 10–15 minute procedure with success rates above 95%. But for the poorest elderly a simple surgery is an insurmountable mountain.
When poverty takes away the last hope
In cities, people search “cataract surgery cost in India” and find private options between ₹15,000–₹50,000+. In villages, elders simply accept fate. A daily-wage labourer, widow, or abandoned senior cannot dream of such expenses. Many depend on children who refuse to pay, citing their own burdens. Some are left alone after being abandoned by family. Others fear becoming a burden and suffer in silence.
The consequences are devastating
- Loss of income: A farmer can no longer tend fields or livestock.
- Increased falls and injuries
- Deepening depression and social isolation
For many, blindness becomes the final straw that breaks an already fragile life.
Sapna: A ray of light
Since 2017, Mahatma Gandhi Netralaya, the eye hospital run by SAPNA (a registered NGO founded in 2004 by ex-IPS officer and former Director General of National Security Guard (NSG), Sudhir Pratap Singh), has been quietly changing this reality. Over 16,000 cataract surgeries have been performed since inception. In 2023-24 alone, they conducted 1,150 surgeries (532 at the hospital + 618 via outreach camps), examined thousands in 60 village camps, and distributed over 1,000 pairs of spectacles.
Sudhir Pratap Singh, who served the nation as DG NSG and earned President’s Police Medals, now leads this mission with the same discipline and compassion.
He recalls one unforgettable case, “Jyoti Devi came from Govindgarh. She was 95 years old. Upon examination, it was found that she only had perception of light. We performed her cataract surgery, and after the surgery, she achieved almost 6/6 vision. We were really delighted.”
What sight restoration actually feels like
Singh explains who they serve, “This surgery is meant only for the poorest of the poor who cannot afford to go to a town. Due to cataracts, their perspective on daily tasks becomes very difficult, they face a lot of blurriness, trouble in their work, especially when they go out to the fields and look after their cows, and livestock, their quality of life and efficiency come down.”
₹6,000 gives someone their life back
At Mahatma Gandhi Netralaya, run by Sapna, the total cost of one complete cataract surgery (including lens, medicines, camp organisation, meals, transport, and follow-up) breaks down as:
Surgeon charges: ₹2,200
Anaesthetist: ₹600
OT Assistant: ₹300
Eye Lens: ₹650
Medicines & Drops: ₹700
Camp Organisation: ₹300
Patient Meals: ₹300
Transportation & Follow-up: ₹400
Admin & Misc.: ₹550
Total: ₹6,000
Your donation multiplies impact
₹6,000 → One elder sees again
₹30,000 → Five elders regain independence
Larger amounts fund rural eye camps that reach hundreds
The urgency cannot be overstated
Cataracts worsen with time. Complications rise with delay. Elderly patients do not have years to wait, many have already lost a decade in darkness. Every day we delay, another Shanti or Jyoti slips further into isolation.Last year SAPNA performed around 1,400 surgeries. They want to scale higher, but need resources, more surgeons, more camps, more support. Even one surgery can transform an entire family. Your donation of ₹6,000 today can let someone see their grandchildren’s smiles again.
Choosing to tread the proverbial road less travelled, Ramon embarked upon a career in journalism and spent over 8 years working for various media organisations. A deeper calling to create a sustainable impact in the lives of the less fortunate compelled him to join the social sector. Ramon is a minimalist at heart and an explorer in spirit.
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