OREANDA-NEWS. January 16, 2013. Tata Power, India's largest integrated power company, has always tried to address community needs and improve the health conditions of the communities in and around its area of operation.

At Haldia, many community members, especially women and senior citizens, suffer from acute eye problems and find it difficult to seek eye treatment in the nearby areas. Keeping this in mind, Tata Power’s Haldia team took a step forward to make eye care facilities available for community members. Along with other health care initiatives, the Haldia team planned and started in-depth eye care intervention in various communities to improve the health of community members. To make this a continuous effort, the Haldia team has partnered with the most reputed and renowned eye care institution in Haldia, Vivekananda Mission Ashram Netra Niramay Niketan, as an implementing partner.

In November 2012, the Haldia team, in collaboration with Vivekananda Mission Ashram Netra Niramay Niketan, organised five free eye screening and checkup camps in different communities. Through these camps, eye checkups were conducted for more than 350 needy community members, including senior citizens and women, free of cost. Apart from free eye checkups, free spectacles were also given to around 168 people, including aged members of the society.

The Haldia team also identified 38 aged people during the camp who needed cataract operation. In collaboration with the partner institution, free cataract operations were also conducted for these 38 senior citizens to restore their invaluable eyesight.

Speaking on this initiative, Abhijit Ain Das, station head, Haldia power plant, said, “The eye checkup camps are initiated to aid the utmost health care needs of our surrounding communities. The legacy of the Tata group encourages us to be conscious and sensitive towards the needs of our communities and society at large. We were delighted with the overwhelming response we received from the community members, particularly from the aged members. We will continue organising such initiatives which help in improving the quality of their life.”