On a crisp February morning, our volunteer team set up a free eye check-up camp at the Samiti premises in Bagar. By 8 AM, a queue of patients had already formed — many had walked from villages as far as 12 kilometres away, having heard about the camp through our volunteer network and local announcements.
The camp was conducted in partnership with a team of ophthalmologists from Jhunjhunu, who generously volunteered their time and equipment. Over the course of the day, 142 patients were screened for refractive errors, cataracts, and other common eye conditions.
Why eye camps matter in rural Rajasthan
In rural Bagar, access to an ophthalmologist is not a given. The nearest eye hospital is in Jhunjhunu town, over 30 kilometres away. For an elderly farmer without transport, a deteriorating eye condition often goes untreated until it becomes debilitating. What begins as a simple refractive error or an early-stage cataract can progress to near-total vision loss — entirely preventable, but only if caught in time.
This is why the Samiti has been organising free eye camps for over two decades. We bring the doctors to the people, rather than expecting people to find the doctors.
Stories from the queue
Smt. Kamla Devi, a 68-year-old widow from Khetri village, had been struggling with blurred vision for over a year. She had stopped stitching, which was her only source of small income. At the camp, she was diagnosed with a refractive error and given a pair of reading glasses on the spot.
I can see the needle again. I didn't think I would ever be able to sew again. God bless these people. — Smt. Kamla Devi, Khetri village
Another patient, Shri Ram Lal, a 72-year-old farmer from Bagar, was diagnosed with a mature cataract in his left eye. He has been referred to the Jhunjhunu eye hospital for surgery, and the Samiti will cover the cost of his transport and the surgical procedure.
What happens next
The 18 patients referred for cataract surgery will be transported to Jhunjhunu in batches over the coming weeks. The Samiti covers the full cost — transport, surgery, post-operative care, and follow-up. Each surgery costs approximately ₹4,500, and we rely entirely on donor support to fund these.
We plan to hold the next eye camp in July 2026, targeting the villages to the south of Bagar that we have not yet covered. If you would like to sponsor a camp or contribute towards cataract surgeries, please get in touch or donate here.
