Eye screening drive for adults, schoolchildren launched in Varanasi
Varanasi (PTI): A vision screening campaign targeting adults and schoolchildren in rural areas was launched here to expand access to primary eye care and facilitate early detection of vision problems, officials said on Saturday.
The initiative, launched on Friday, is being implemented by the India Vision Institute (IVI) in partnership with CreditAccess India Foundation, the CSR arm of CreditAccess Grameen Limited.
The programme aims to take basic eye screening services closer to communities and classrooms, with provisions for referral and follow-up care wherever required.
IVI Chief Executive Officer Vinod Daniel said timely primary eye care interventions can have a direct impact on learning outcomes and productivity by addressing uncorrected refractive errors at an early stage.
Officials associated with the programme said the campaign would work with local stakeholders to ensure smooth delivery of screenings and continuity of care, particularly for school-going children and working adults, with the broader objective of reducing avoidable vision impairment.
CreditAccess India Foundation Chief Operating Officer Satish Rao said the collaboration was focused on improving access to essential eye care services at the community level, while its Chief Business Officer Gopal Reddy said initiatives such as accessible vision care contribute to education and livelihoods.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
