The project is a joint venture with the government of West Bengal, which has allotted the hospital a 17-cottah plot in the area. The centre will house a super-specialty paediatrics ophthalmology clinic, and specialise in areas like advanced vitreo-rental service, and vision enhancement, teaching, training and vision research.
The project was expected to be operational by 2010, said R C Paul, secretary of the foundation. Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Chandra Bagchi, president, Susrut Eye Foundation, said, "Susrut has grown from strength to strength, and has completed ten successful years of service. We are now ready for our next phase of growth.
The project would be a major stride in self reliance in eye care." The World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts that the world's blindness burden will be doubled by the year 2020. Nearly, 20 per cent of this blindness is avoidable, according to Paul. Out of four blind people in world, one is an Indian. It is estimated that over 12 million people in India are blind.
Eastern India accounts for 2.5 million people, who are suffering from blindness.
