KCR prods ministers, babus on Kanti Velugu

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday directed the officials to make all necessary arrangements for the launch of “Kanti Velugu” programme, aimed at conducting eye tests for all the people in the State on August 15. He will take part in the launch of the programme in one of the villages in his Gajwel Assembly constituency.

The Chief Minister asked the officials to launch the programme simultaneously all over the State. He said all the Ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and all elected representatives should participate in the programme. Holding a review meeting on the programme here, the Chief Minister said the government for the first time had decided to conduct free eye tests to all the 3.70 crore people in the State.

The officials briefed the Chief Minister that teams comprising doctors had been formed all over the State. There would be 799 teams, and, in each team consisted of an MBBS doctor, Optometrist, ANM and others. Every team will conduct eye test on an average for 250 persons per day. The necessary eye drops, medicines, 34 lakh spectacles are kept ready and will be dispatched to districts. They said that 114 eye hospitals, both private and public, are identified for conducting operations.

The Chief Minister also made suggestions to the officials. He specifically asked the officials to ensure that the day-to-day operations in the hospitals are not disturbed in the name of the programme. KCR said also announced that the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital would be provided with a new building complex as well as all types of modern equipment and facilities. He instructed the officials to prepare proposals for this.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure that the existing Basti Clinics in the twins and cities, including Hyderabad and Secunderabad are of immense use to the poor people. The number of such clinics should be increased, he said.