J&K Govt: "Aaankh Ki Andhi Nainsukh"

No Eye Bank yet lakhs being spent on Eye Donation Campaign

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 13: Every year lakhs of rupee being spent on creating awareness among people regarding eye donation with the theme "Netradaan Mahadaan". The campaign prompts hundreds of people for voluntary eye donation after their death but, a question haunts them, Where's the Eye-Bank in Jammu? And, where they have to go for registration? The answer is, the State do not have Eye-Bank facility and the donors won't be able to donate their eyes at least in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to sources, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu had the facility of Eye Bank a decade ago but due to some problems the bank had to be closed. The Eye Bank was in working condition till the time Dr Subhash Gupta was Head of Department (HOD) Ophthalmology. But after his retirement his successors didn't pay attention to the progress of eye bank or its infrastructure that led to its closure.

As per sources, the Eye Bank infrastructure had been deported to other departments. The ambulance of the eye bank is now being used for transportation of the students.

S Deep Singh, president of NGO Peoples Action and Public Accountability, said "The Government has made mockery of the system. On one hand it is spending lakhs of rupee on campaigns in favour of eye donation but on other side Eye Bank facility is not available.

Government is playing with the sentiments of people." He further said that what's the utility of upgrading GMC on AIIMS pattern with the expenditure of billions of rupee when The State doesn't have Eye Bank facility. It proverb Aaankh Ke Andhe Nanisukh" suits well to the Government, he commented.

Jagminder Singh- an prospective eye donor, said he want to donate his eyes but I was told in GMC that the facility is not available. "It means I won't be able to help visually disabled person," he regretted.

When contacted, HOD Eye Department GMC Dr R K Mengi claimed that GMC never had Eye Bank. However, he acknowledged that large number of people want to donate their eyes and there were patients also who need donated eye to get back light in their eyes but due to the absence of eye bank things were not happening for them.

Minister for Medical Education R S Chib while responsing to this query said he was aware of the matter. "I also feel that there should be Eye Bank each in Jammu as well as in Srinagar. I will soon call a meeting with Principals of GMCs and work out the modalities for opening of Eye Bank", he added.