Eye Care for Citizens of Gadchiroli through ‘Specs 2030’ Initiative: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, Sept 2025 : Special focus is being placed on raising awareness about eye health and ensuring affordable, quality eye care services for citizens in tribal and backward districts like Gadchiroli. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the “Specs 2030” project, being implemented by the State Public Health Department in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), will bring positive change in children’s education, youth employment, and the overall quality of life of society.

Fadnavis appealed for this initiative, run by WHO, to be launched in Gadchiroli district. With its rollout, Aheri taluka of Gadchiroli will set a national benchmark for eye healthcare services. The WHO’s “Specs 2030 – One Sight Program,” in partnership with Maharashtra’s Health Department and the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, will be implemented in five backward districts across India, including Gadchiroli. The initiative will also align with the National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI).

Globally, 2.2 billion people suffer from vision impairment, of which at least 1 billion cases are preventable. In India, nearly 53% of vision problems are due to uncorrected refractive errors. One in every ten schoolchildren faces vision-related issues. Against this backdrop, WHO launched the “Specs 2030” scheme, which aims to ensure the supply of affordable and quality eyeglasses to all by 2030.

Under this initiative, services will be implemented in Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Dhubri (Assam), Kalahandi (Odisha), Alwar (Rajasthan), and Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) based on the “Asha Kiran Model.” This model involves door-to-door primary eye screenings by ASHA workers, refraction and eyeglass distribution at primary health centers, and cataract surgeries at government hospitals—ensuring comprehensive eye healthcare at every stage.

The program also includes training and capacity building of local health workers, community awareness campaigns, health dialogues at schools and village councils, promotion through local NGOs and media, and systematic data collection and analysis to measure effectiveness and outcomes.