A Vision Rooted in Compassion

In the heart of Bengaluru, where narrow lanes and modest homes of Gajendra Nagar tell stories of resilience, a silent crisis has long persisted - the loss of vision due to preventable causes. For many here, access to quality eye care was once an unimaginable luxury.

Today, that story is changing.
Through the Gajendra Nagar Project, an initiative by Dr. Zamindar’s Eye Foundation, the light of sight is being restored - one screening, one surgery, one life at a time.

The Foundation’s mission is simple yet profound: To eliminate avoidable blindness through collaboration, capacity building, and affordable quality eye care.


Why Gajendra Nagar Matters?

Gajendra Nagar - a notified slum under BBMP, located opposite SMVT Railway Station - is home to nearly 5,000 residents, most from low-income families. Limited healthcare access, financial hardship, and lack of awareness have left many vulnerable to preventable vision loss.

Here, avoidable blindness is not merely a medical issue - it’s a barrier to education, employment, and dignity.
People live with untreated refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, conditions that could easily be diagnosed and treated with timely care.

The World Health Organization defines community engagement as “developing relationships that enable people and providers to work together for better health outcomes.”
That spirit forms the foundation of this project - building trust, creating awareness, and offering tangible solutions where they’re needed most.

The Work So Far

Since the first outreach camp, Zamindar’s team has been on the ground, not in offices - meeting people where they are.

  • Camp 1 (May 26, 2024): 108 patients screened, 50 needed further evaluation.

  • Camp 2 (June 27, 2025): 100 screened, 18 cataract cases identified, 27 glasses provided.

  • Camp 3 (September 3, 2025): 61 screened, 6 cataract cases identified, 12 glasses provided.

Across these three camps, 269 residents have been screened, 39 pairs of glasses distributed, and 24 cataract patients referred for surgery. Awareness sessions on eye hygiene, early detection, and preventive care have reached many more.

This ongoing work is more than outreach, It’s about restoring hope and productivity in a community that had long been left unseen.

Goals for the Future

The Gajendra Nagar Project aims to eradicate avoidable blindness in the area within 12 months.

The Foundation’s roadmap includes:

  • Screening all 4,500-5,000 residents for vision problems.

  • Providing 1,500 pairs of spectacles to those with refractive errors.

  • Referring 300-400 patients for free or subsidized treatments including cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy care.

  • Conducting quarterly awareness programs on eye health and hygiene.

  • Training local Community Vision Leaders for sustained engagement.

  • Achieving zero cases of untreated avoidable blindness through complete care loops - from screening to surgery to post-operative follow-ups.

This project is designed not only to cure but to create a replicable model of urban slum transformation through vision care.

How It Works?

The project’s structure ensures that no one is left behind.

Community Outreach Camps are conducted once every two months, supported by trusted local figures to build awareness and participation.

General Screening Initiatives cover all age groups with:

  • Vision tests for refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy.

  • On-the-spot dispensing of prescription spectacles.

  • Portable diagnostic equipment for field investigations.

  • Referrals to Zamindar Community Eyecare Centre at Jai Bharat Nagar for advanced care.

  • Quarterly follow-ups to monitor outcomes.

Every interaction closes the loop - from detection to treatment to recovery.

Partnerships that Strengthen Impact

Collaboration is the backbone of progress.
The Gajendra Nagar Project is proudly supported by Rotary Bangalore Downtowners, whose partnership amplifies the reach and sustainability of the mission.

To ensure data-driven action, the Foundation has also partnered with MS Ramaiah Medical College for research on “Burden of Eye Diseases and Barriers to Eye Care in Gajendra Nagar Slum.”

Through door-to-door surveys and population-based studies, the project combines clinical excellence with academic rigor, setting benchmarks that can guide future policies and public-health strategies.

 

Beyond the Project: Our Broader Vision

The Gajendra Nagar Project is part of Zamindar Eye Foundation’s larger mission to integrate eye care with everyday well-being.

  • Road Safety Initiative: Free vision screening and affordable glasses for auto, cab, and truck drivers - because clear vision means safer roads.

  • Children’s Eye Care Initiative: Specialized clinics for myopia, lazy eye, and vision therapy ensure no child is left behind in school or play.

Seeing Hope in Every Eye

The journey of the Gajendra Nagar Project is more than medical - it is humanitarian, hopeful, and deeply transformative.
Each eye healed is a future brightened, a life reclaimed, a community strengthened.

At Zamindar Eye Foundation, we believe that sight is not a privilege - it’s a human right.
Together, let’s make sure every eye in Gajendra Nagar sees the light of a new beginning.

A Call to Action

You can help light the way forward. Every ₹7,500 donation can fund:

  • A cataract surgery, restoring sight and independence.

  • Ten pairs of prescription glasses for those who cannot afford them.

  • Diagnostic tests and treatments for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Each contribution rewrites someone’s story - from blindness to vision, from dependency to dignity.

📍 Account Name: Dr. Zamindars Eye Foundation
🏦 A/C No: 50200110827967
🏦 IFSC: HDFC0000353 | Branch: Kalyan Nagar