- Free spectacles, advanced treatment to be provided to 459 students identified with visual difficulties
BUDGAM: The District Administration Budgam, in collaboration with Nayonika Eye Care Charitable Trust has achieved a significant milestone under the district-wide Children’s Eye Health Programme, with 60,500 students screened so far out of 70,280 students in the 6-18 age group.
The comprehensive screening programme aims to ensure early identification of vision-related problems among school-going children and facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment. The initiative is being implemented across schools in the district with the objective of ensuring that no child is left with an undetected vision problem that could affect learning and overall development.
Out of the students screened so far, around 459 children have been identified with suspected visual difficulties. These children will be provided spectacles free of cost, wherever required, and will be referred for further examination and appropriate treatment. Children requiring specialised or surgical intervention will be facilitated for treatment at higher health institutions, including tertiary-care eye hospitals.
The screening process involves preliminary eye examinations at the school level, followed by rescreening and detailed assessment at concerned Sub-District Hospitals and District Hospital, ensuring that children identified with vision difficulties receive appropriate medical attention.
The programme was initiated under the directions of Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, who has emphasised the importance of screening all school-going children in the district. The Deputy Commissioner has stressed that early detection and treatment of vision problems can significantly improve children’s participation in classroom learning and educational activities.
The screening of 60,500 children out of 70,280 in the 6–18 age group represents a significant achievement of the District Administration Budgam and reflects the coordinated efforts of the Health and Education Departments, school-level screening facilitators, Nayonika Eye Care Charitable Trust, Help Foundation J&K and other stakeholders.
The administration remains committed to completing the screening of all eligible school-going children and ensuring timely referral, treatment and provision of spectacles to children identified with vision-related difficulties.


