Make eye donation part of daily conversation: Rathore

Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today pitched for raising awareness about eye donation through educational institutes and mass media, so that it becomes a part of "daily conversation".
Speaking at the 32nd National Eye Donation Fortnight at the AIIMS here, the minister referred to the practice of blood donation, which, he said, has become commonplace.
"As data say, about 1.2 crore people (in India) suffer from blindness and a large number of people are in need of corneal transplant. Blood donation has become so prevalent, even among people villages and small towns.
"Similarly, eye donation should become a part of our daily conversation. Awareness (about it) should be raised in schools, colleges and through television serials, and films, just like they have done it in case of blood donation," Rathore said.

The minister of state for information and broadcasting also referred to giving up of the cooking gas subsidy by people to emphasise the point about donating for human cause.
"When the campaign to give up LPG subsidy was announced, many people made fun of it, saying who will let go of the subsidy. But later, so many families gave up the subsidy. It was more of ordinary people who forfeited it," he said.

Rathore, who won a silver medal in shooting at the 2004 Olympic Games, shared experiences of his Army and sporting careers to stress on the importance of the human eye.

He also cautioned that blindness is related to lifestyle of people to certain extent.
The minister, on the occasion, also launched an online facility through which people can register themselves for eye donation. AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and the chairman of the National Eye Bank, Jeewan S Titiyal, were also present on the occasion.
"Families of various eye donors and NGOs working in the field, were felicitated as part of the celebrations to mark the National Eye Donation Fortnight, held annually from August 25 to September 8," Titiyal said.