Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday sent out a message by pledging to donate his eyes, saying he wanted his last rites to be performed in Saranda forests.
“I have decided to donate my eyes to the Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital (KMEH) and I have filled the form for it,” he said.Ramesh was speaking at a function for a ‘Run for Vision’ organised by KMEH in Ranchi as a part of ‘Eye Donation Week’. More than 1,000 people, including school students, participated.Chief Secretary RS Sharma, Water Resources Secretary SK Satpathy, hospital founder and director Bharti Kashyap and Dr BP Kashyap were also present.The day also saw the end of a mega eye camp in latehar being held since July 30 as part of the Saryu Action Plan. Around 2,000 persons from 114 villages were checked up by KMEH, in association with State Bank of India.
Ramesh appreciated such work in Maoist-affected areas, pointing out that malnutrition, malaria and a lack of proper sanitation facilities remained major problem areas.“The State receives around Rs 650 crore under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) from the Centre. However, Rs 250 crore remains unutilised for several reasons. The present need is to increase fund utilisation,” he maintained.
“The State Government should also discuss these issues with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. I will also have a word with Chief Minister Hemant Soren on implementation of the Medical Protection Act,” added Ramesh. Azad will be in the city to inaugurate a super speciality centre at RIMS.Kashyap said, “We are proud of the 280 eye donations we have garnered and 227 cornea grafts conducted. We distributed 5,000 Vitamin A capsules among children found deficient. We will also provide eyeglasses to 200 underprivileged children.”