In May 1977, inspired by the Sankaracharyas of Kanchi, Dr.R.V. Ramani and his wife, Dr. Radha Ramani set up a Primary Health Care Centre for the needy at Coimbatore. With the help of Doctors offering voluntary services and the support of Coimbatore’s Resident Community, the service grew to 12 Medical Centres in 9 states serving 1000 patients every day.

BEGINNINGS

In 1985, Dr. Ramani’s attention was drawn to the tangible difference the “Gift of Vision” could make. More than 80% of blindness is preventable and curable. Sankara Eye Hospital was started with the mission to eradicate needless blindness. Under the aegis of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Medical Trust. In keeping with Mahatma Gandhi’s dictum, ‘India lives in the villages’, in 1990, Dr. R.V. Ramani launched Gift of Vision – High quality, cost effective, readily available eye care at the doorsteps of Rural India. With the support of Rotary International and Rotary Coimbatore Central, through a Health, Hunger and Humanity Grant for the first time in India the “Gift of Vision” programme was initiated. The Model aims at providing World Class eye care totally free of cost to 80 % of the population and through paid services for 20 % which in turn subsidises the total cost of treatment.

“MORE THAN 8O% OF BLINDNESS IS PREVENTABLE AND CURABLE. SANKARA WAS STARTED WITH THE MISSION TO ERADICATE NEEDLESS BLINDNESS.”

NATIONAL REPLICATION

Replicating the sustainable Model was the next big dream of Dr R.V. Ramani. In 2002 a grand vision of replicating the sustainable eye care model across the country was envisaged. His relentless pursuit towards enabling sight for the less-fortunate brought International support: Sankara Eye Foundation established in USA became an integral part of the Sankara’s vision for National replication and that led to the first replication outside Coimbatore in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Today with the strong commitment towards eradicating curable blindness 12 Super Speciality Sankara Eye Hospitals have been set up across 9 states of the country.

Each of the Board of Trustees shares a special bond with Sankara’s vision and brings with him/her rich years of experience in their respective fields. They are an integral part of Sankara’s movement to bring world-class eye care to everyone across India. Learn more about their history and role at Sankara below.

SANKARAEYEFOUNDATIONINDIA