Sightsavers in India

We work with the government and partners in India and across South Asia to provide inclusive eye services and ensure everyone can claim their human rights.

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India is the world’s most populated country and the seventh largest by area. It’s home to 1.3 billion people.

The country has one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, which has helped to significantly reduce extreme levels of poverty. However, many people face social inequality and live below the poverty line.

Free universal basic health care is available in all states. Yet due to a lack of awareness, a significant proportion of the population has little access to essential services like eye care, leaving many people with avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

Despite the nation’s recent advances, people with disabilities and women and girls still experience discrimination and stigma in society, which can affect their chance to gain an education, access health care and find work.

Sightsavers began working in India in 1966. Our head office is in New Delhi.

Facts about India

  • Population: 1.4 billion
  • Capital: New Delhi
  • Official languages: Hindi, English
  • Human development index (HDI) ranking: 130 (medium)

4.9 million people are estimated to be blind

70 million people have a visual impairment

2.21% of the population is thought to have a disability

Sources: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, Government of India

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Four patients with protective glasses talk to a man in a suit.

What are the challenges in India, and how can these be addressed?

Four patients with protective glasses talk to a man in a suit.

Eye care

India’s health care system needs extra funding to recruit qualified staff and boost essential resources.

Many people experience barriers when accessing basic health care services, which means they’re more likely to have a long-term health condition or a disability. Sightsavers’ eye health work in the country aims to provide inclusive eye care services by diagnosing and treating eye conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma.

A man is removing a woman's eye bandages.

Our eye care work in India

Rural eye screening

Regular screening can check people for eye conditions and refer them for treatment where needed. Our inclusive eye care programmes target rural communities and marginalised groups.

Truckers’ programme

We run free eye clinics at roadsides for India’s five million truck drivers. Long hours away from home mean that many men are unable to access vital eye care, putting them and others at risk.

Cataract surgery

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in India. We provide operations for children and adults, enabling them to return to education and work.
Learn about cataracts

Inclusion and equality

Not everyone in India can claim their human rights.

People with disabilities and women and girls often face stigma and discrimination in society. Our charity work on disability rights in India focuses on improving everyone’s access to education, employment and health care opportunities.

A middle-aged woman wearing a sari smiles and waves.

Our inclusion work in India

Inclusive education

Sightsavers works with local governments to make schools more inclusive for students with disabilities by training teachers and providing adapted learning materials.
Learn about inclusive education

Employment and training

We work with organisations to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities, enabling them to learn new skills and earn a living. Visit the canteen run by people with disabilities

Working in collaboration

We support organisations of people with disabilities by providing skills training so they can advocate for their community, whether pushing for change at a local or national level. Our disability rights work

Community health worker Laboni sits next to a whirring fan.

“The loveliest thing about my job is when somebody gets back their sight. Seeing their happy face is what makes me extremely happy.”

Community health worker Laboni sits next to a whirring fan.

Laboni, community health worker in the Sundarbans

How you can help

Our charity work in India is helping to ensure that everyone can access inclusive eye care services, but there’s still more we need to do.

With your support, we want to expand our eye health and social inclusion programmes to create a ripple effect in India, so everyone can learn, earn and thrive. To do this, we need your help.

Charity donations, legacies, corporate partnerships and gifts from charitable foundations are a vital source of funding for our programmes in India. We also welcome opportunities to work in partnership with governments, institutions and development organisations.

I’d like to get involved...

Contact us: If you have any questions about our work in India, would like more information about our programmes or wish to discuss ways you can donate or support us, email [email protected]

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