“One person’s eye donation benefits two. Eye donation does not only give sight to the blind but also gives light to one’s life,” said Prithvish Nag, Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi while addressing the participants in the World Sight Day walk organized in Varanasi on 13 October 2016.

To feel one with the blind all over the world and to pledge donate one’s eyes to the needy, more than 700 people walked a kilometer from Shahid Park (Martyrs’ Park) to Bharat Mata Mandir (Mother India Temple), holding banners and placards, ‘Feel being blind. Donate your eyes.’ Prarthana Singh, a twelfth grade student of Jeevan Jyoti inclusive school for the visually challenged said in her opening message to the sighted people: “It is everyone’s right to glorify the beauteous creation. You are blessed to see and enjoy it but we are not. We are grateful to those scientists who have made the dark world bright for us. We are proud of those ophthalmologists who dedicate their service to give sight to the blind and make our lives easier.”

The event was organized on World Vision Day in collaboration with different NGOs like Vishwa Jyoti Communication Centre, St. Mary’s Hospital, Kashi Kaumi Ekta Manch, Jan Vikas Samiti, Jeevan Jyoti School, Vishwa Jyoti Gurukul, St. John’s School, etc. as part of a nationwide campaign spearheaded by Fr. George Kannanthanam, a Claratian priest who founded Project Vision in Bangalore in 2014.

Five each sighted persons were blind folded in a group and were guided by a blind person. Jasmine, a nurse by profession and Puja Verma, an MSW student said, “We are blessed to be part of this event. We have now experienced how difficult it is for blind people to move around without any assistance. We will encourage others to donate their eyes.”

Sanya and Sharon, six and eighth grade students said, “We are sad that our blind friends are not able to see and enjoy the nature as we do.” Anshul Joy Robinson of CBCI, Coalition for AIDS and Related Diseases and co-ordinator of Uttar Pradesh state said, “We take up this project to make awareness on eye donation on a large scale. We plan to have Vision Ambassadors to motivate the families of persons diseased.”

Musafir Paswan, blind by birth and a teacher in school for the blind told Matters India: “I appeal to everyone to treat the blind humanely. I also appeal to the Government make sure that all the policies made for the uplift of the blind reach them. The Government also should set up eye examination clinics to serve the blind.” Fr. Thomas who represented the Prelate of Varanasi diocese flagged off the Blind Walk at 10 A.M.

He exhorted all the participants to be compassionate to the blind and experience the difficulty the blind face in their lives. More than 150 people signed up to donate their eyes.