1% of blind people in India are bilaterally corneal blind out of which only approximately 60,000 can be delivered vision by penetrating keratoplasty. Rest 50% cannot be provided vision due to associated involvement of the posterior segment. Considering the annual addition of 20,000 fresh cases of corneal blindness, maximum utilization of collected corneas and a backlog of corneal blindness and India needs approximately 140,000 eye donors as of today against 40,621 cornea collections as per NPCB. Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra had initiated an eye donation campaign and awareness drives across 164 villages in Chiplun. SNM in collaboration with hospitals, local governing bodies and also hold 15 free eye check-up camps to maximize the outreach within the community.

• A total of 760 people had registered for Eye Donation across 164 villages in Chiplun.
• Sahyadri also facilitated relatives of donors of this year as ambassadors of this campaign.
• A 15 km rally to create awareness on eye donation flagged off by Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra and Organ and Body donation Organisation, Mumbai in the Chiplun city.
• Importance of Eye donation being told by through street play performed by 'SnehavardhiniMahilaMandal'.
• Sahyadri celebrated world eye donation day in the month of June. Awareness drives and registrations were had throughout the region.