Jamshedpur,: A ten-day Cataract Screening and Surgery Camp was organised from October 27 to November 8, 2025, at Gamharia under Tata Steel Foundation’s Public Health initiative, in technical partnership with Shankar Nethralaya and social partnership with Santhal Sarna Umul, Gamharia. The initiative aimed to provide comprehensive eye care services — from screening to free cataract surgeries — for underserved communities, enabling better vision and an improved quality of life. The camp venue was generously provided by Kherval Samtha Jorhargarh Samiti, Kalikapur, at no cost, reflecting the strong community connect and collective effort toward promoting better health and well-being. In the run-up to the camp, extensive patient mobilisation activities were conducted by the Tata Steel Foundation Gamharia team over a fortnight. Awareness was created through outreach programmes such as community visits, mobile vans travelling across villages, and distribution of pamphlets at educational institutions.
Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) students also presented Nukkad Nataks (street plays) at common gathering places such as markets, bus stops and open pandals. The team further leveraged festive gatherings at Chhath Ghat to reach a wider audience effectively. The camp received an overwhelming response from the local community. A total of 558 individuals, including 306 men and 252 women, were screened during the initiative, out of which 113 individuals (54 men and 59 women) were identified for surgery. While around 39 percent of those screened were found unfit for surgery due to various health conditions, others were advised on normal refraction to help restore clear vision. Cataract surgeries were conducted from November 4 to 8, with follow-up check-ups and medicines provided thereafter. Villagers expressed great enthusiasm for the free services offered through a specially equipped, air-conditioned mobile operation theatre (OT). A total of 128 identified beneficiaries diagnosed with mature cataracts underwent surgery at the camp site, free of cost.
In addition to the surgeries, the Tata Steel Foundation team has been conducting awareness sessions on eye health and the importance of regular eye check-ups. Patients from various panchayats of Gamharia block and neighbouring Seraikela have been turning up in large numbers to benefit from this initiative.