Miles We Walked Together !

Dear All,

Wish you a very happy and prosperous new year 2009.

2008 has been the year of innovation, excitement, learning and growth at SIAO with some of the wonderful initiatives by our wonderful team. We have achieved lots of good things in year 2008; we sincerely acknowledge the guidance, support and contribution from the Regional office and other area offices. We also acknowledge the support from HQ, Partners and well-wishers in our journey. Just to give the glimpses of year 2008 please find attached “Miles we walked…journey ahead….!”

We have planned lots of new initiatives in the year 2009 and I am sure we will continue to achieve the same through your guidance and support and best wishes. Please do share your comments, thoughts, suggestions to us and posting it the SAMVAD-blogs too.

Wish you once again a very happy new year.


Regards


Shrinivas Sawant
Area Director
South India Area Office


Miles we walked…journey ahead...!
(2008-2009)

Learning and Participation:

• Conference by Asia & Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) on ‘Disability and Development’
• Meeting of Network of funding Organization working on disability at CBR forum Bangalore
• XX ISGEO Congress workshop at Bangalore at AIOS
• Breaking barriers- Techshare India, New Delhi
• Management Training for Eye Care Programme Managers at LAICO, Madurai.
• Workshop on Advocacy in Eye Care, Madurai
• National Symposium on “Vision Impairment in Later Life” organized at H.V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune.
• National Human Rights Commission meeting on Reviewing the Implementation of UNCRPD in Western Region, Pune
• International Rehab Conference, By Holy Cross, Tiruchirapalli
• Conference on Status of Braille in Asian Blind Union Countries, New Delhi
• COSI Meeting, New Delhi
• National Human Rights Commission meeting on Reviewing the Implementation of UNCRPD in Western Region, Pune


Honours & Affiliations:

• Citizens Journalist Award from TV 18 (CNN-IBN) to Dr Sam Taraporewala, XRCVC, Mumbai
• Award of Excellence as alumni of South Indian Education Society Mumbai to Ketan Kothari from Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
• Star Achiever Award from Tamil Nadu State Human Right Organization to Mr Ranganathen Rangs, CTRD at Chennai.
• Sankara Eye Centre, Coimbatore won the Asian Hospital Management Award for its “Diabetic Retinopathy Project for Rural India”, for carrying out the project along with the Rotary Club of Coimbatore Central.
• Award to Prof. Raju, Vision Aid, for best invention of the year by Department of Science and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI.
• Vision Aid signed MoU with IIT Kharagpur to develop low cost user friendly software for blind and low vision people.


Events Organized by SIAO

• Launch of DOLPHIN pen at NAB Karnataka and Techshare road show, Bangalore
• Launch of Mumbai Eye Care Campaign.
• MLOP Refresher Training for SIA, Vishakhapatnam
• Workshop for IE teachers organized at NAB Karnataka, Bangalore
• National level Low Vision workshop at Lotus college of Optometry, Mumbai
• Workshop on proposed policy for inclusive education
• Print Access Workshop at XRCVC Mumbai
• Support to Antarchakshu by XRCVC, Mumbai
• Workshop for Maharashtra District Programme Managers on best practices of Cataract Management, Aurangabad.


Presentations & Publications

• Presentation and publication on “Empowering Community for Eye Care Services” IAPB VIII General Assembly, Argentina by Shrinivas(Aug)
• Presentation on “Sustainability in Eye Care”, at a workshop “A decade of VISION 2020 in India” , Hyderabad by Shrinivas(Dec)
• “Demystifying Blindness” presentation at Bangalore and Vizag by Ketan Kothari. (Sep)
• Case study publication “Mahesh’s Passport to Success…Braille” in EENET Asia Newsletter, Fifth issue by Shweta Chooramani.
• Event coverage “Assistive Technology Conference: Techshare India” in EENET Asia Newsletter, Sixth issue by Shweta Chooramani.
• Case study publication from NAB Kerala, “David A Fountain of Success” in EENET Asia Newsletter, Sixth Issue.
• Presentation on “Accessibility Initiatives by Sightsavers Partners” at International Rehabilitation Conference organized by Holy Cross College, Trichy by Ketan Kothari.


Academics and Research:

• Lecture by Hasan Minto, Low Vision Expert on Low Vision at Coimbatore City Ophthalmic Association, Coimbatore and alumni group of Lotus College of Optometry, Mumbai.
• Lecture by Dr M.N.G. Mani, Secretary General, International Council for Education of Visually Impaired (ICEVI) people, Coimbatore.
• Participation in Workshop on Research Methodology at LAICO, Madurai.


Advocacy Initiatives and Milestones:

• RBI and IBA (Indian Banking Association) directive for accessible banking for people with visual impairment through XRCVC.
• Book share membership opened to Indian visually impaired readers via XRCVC.
• Circular regarding permission to study science at the higher secondary level in Maharashtra.
• DPM Meeting at Vijayawada (AP), Aurangabad (Maharashtra), Bangalore (Karnataka).
• ORRC organized Multi Disability Assessment Camp at district in collaboration with District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (Disability Welfare Department, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh) for 100% on the spot certification of disabled persons covering a total of 3,500 disabled persons in the district.


New Projects:

1. J.M. Charitable Trust – District Approach Child Rural Integrated Sight Project (CRISP) through tele-network of vision centre connected with ISRO supported satellite, Kanyakumari
2. CADRE – India –District Approach Enlighten You Eyes (EYE) Project, Kanyakumari
3. NAB Kerala – District Approach Advocacy Project at Panchayat Level for Eyes (APPLE) project, Kerala
4. Vision aid, JKS, ORRC – Satellite for computer education of visually impaired children.
5. Sankar Foundation – Community DR Project.
6. Rotary netra extension support.
7. SKKMT- Coimbatore
8. Mumbai Eye Care Campaign Pilot Project in Dharavi Slum in partnership with Lotus College of Optometry
9. Project with Vimala Dermatological Centre with emphasis on eyecare issues in leprosy patients.
10. Launch of Life Line Express Mobile Clinic (LLEMC) with co-funding from Impact India Foundation implemented by our partner Tulsi Eye Hospital
11. Inauguration of Shri Kanchi Kama Koti Medical Trust (SKKMT) - Shankara Eye Hospital, Shimoga
12. Tulsi Eye Hospital, Nashik – Peadiatrics eye care
13. Shree Bhairav Seva Samiti, Bhivandi (tribal area of thane)
14. SKKMT Bangalore – addendum for onchology (eye cancer) and paediatric eye care.
15. NAB-KB – Ext to Kollegal


New Partners in 2008:

1. Shree Bhairav Seva Samiti, Bhiwandi
2. J.M. Charitable Trust
3. H.V. Desai Eye Hospital
4. Impact India Foundation


Potential Partners Assessed in 2008:

Andhra Pradesh
1. Gautami Eye Institute, Rajahmundry (East Godavari)
2. Pushpagiri Vitreo Retinal Institute, Secunderabad
Tamil Nadu
3. Hellen Keller Talking Book Library, Madurai
4. J. M. Charitable, Nagercoil (Kanyakumari)
5. UDIS Network, Coimbatore
Maharashtra
6. Meeting with Dr Ranjikant Arole, Director at CRHP, Jamkhed
7. Dr Viskas Amte, Secretary Maharogi Sewa Samiti Anandvan, Chandrapur
8. Dr Abhay Bang, SEARCH, Gadhchiroli
9. Mahatme Eye Hospital, Nagpur
10. Dr Satish Gogulvar, Amich Amuchya Aarogya Saathi


Visitors

Jan: - Catherine Cross and Joseph Oye visiting SVYM, Mysore,
Feb: - Kate Gooding visiting to Vizag
Mar: - Taitos Matafeni and Hasan Minto
July: - Katrina Scaife, Nick Bell, Luke Thomas
Sept: - Hasan Minto, Low Vision expert
- Three low vision technicians from Sri Lanka Government supported by Sightsavers Sri Lanka country office.
- Ms. Anne Noon from Sightsavers UK and Ms. Kate Hardy (Journalist) from Guardian
- Carol and Julie (long standing staff) from Sightsavers UK (HH) office
Oct: - Hasan Minto
Nov: - Len Jones to Sankara Eye Hospital, Chennai
Nov: - Sally Crook from IAPB for Mumbai Eye Care Campaign


PLANS FOR 2009:

1. Partnership with Government of Andhra Pradesh and HMRI 104 Mobile Unit for integration of eye health in Fixed Day Health Scheme across the state with pilot in Vizag region through Sankar Foundation.
2. Supporting advocacy resource centre and disability forum by Organization for Rural Reconstruction (ORRC) in partnership with district administration.
3. Collaboration with Regional Eye Hospital, Vishkhapatnam for supporting teleophthalmology project in Vizag region through Rotary Netra Eye Hospital.
4. Project on low vision with Sankara Eye Hospital, Chennai hospital partners through Lotus College of Optometry, Mumbai
5. Priority and emphasis on advocacy based projects in community programmes on rehabilitation and education.
6. Support National Association for the Blind, Karnataka for employability training of visually impaired girls.
7. Launching atleast two assistive technology projects in SIAO.
8. To initiate partnership with atleast one BPO/DPO in each state of SIAO.
9. Forging linkages with SSA in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
10.District level project in the Nilgiris in collaboration with tea estates by Centre for Rural and Tribal Development (CTRD).
11.Harnessing alliance with UDIS under the mentorship of Dr M.N.G. Mani, Secretary General, ICEVI.
12. Capacity building and training for District Programme Managers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
13.Organizing CBR conference to share the different models in collaboration with National Institute for Visually Handicapped, Action Aid, Holy Cross Hospital, Sense International and Blind's People Association.
14.Launch of Vidarbha Network with participation of partners like Anandvan, SEARCH and Mahatme Eye Hospital, NAB along with Government.
15.ROP and Low Vision projects with one partner each in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
16.District level Paediatric eye care project involving ICDS in Maharashtra
17.Initiating and strengthening the North Maharashtra Comprehensive Eye Services (CES)network
18.Two new Comprehensive Paediatric CES projects in Karnataka
19.Educating corporates through “Demystifying blindness” presentation bursting myths and misconceptions on blindness.
20. Promoting partners for publications of case studies at national and international forums.
21. Launching newsletters from APPLE and EYE project in Kerala and Tamilnadu respectively.