IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: A teacher carrying out a simple test to check a pupil's eyesight.

HYDERABAD: Raju did not feel like going to school. Not that he was not interested in studies but his problem was that he could not see properly what was being written on the black board. The same was the case with many of his friends who gradually lost interest and eventually dropped out.

Ten-year-old Raju would have also followed suit but for timely intervention by Ranga Reddy district authorities. Today Raju of Shankerpally mandal wears eyeglasses and is happily pursuing his studies. His is not the lone case. Hundreds of children who were on the verge of quitting school have changed their decision and are back at school with improved eyesight.

It was an eye-opener to the authorities that a number of children in rural areas skirting the State capital could not see clearly, particularly those studying in Government schools. Not knowing what to do, parents simply withdrew their children from school, adding to the high dropout rate in the district.

Ranga Reddy district Collector, L. Premchandra Reddy, took personal interest in the matter and carried out a preliminary eye test of school children in all the 37 mandals. As many as 2,84,816 children in 2436 primary, upper primary and high schools were tested. For this an eye chart used by ophthalmologists was prepared and supplied to all Government schools. The teachers were trained in carrying out the simple test of making the children read the chart from a distance of six metres.

The results were amazing. Nearly 22,492 children were found to have problem reading the chart. Later they were tested again by the ophthalmic assistants of the District Blind Control Society. This test showed 4,193 to be having eye problem. Of these, 346 children were referred to Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital where 53 were identified for surgery.

Rajendranagar with 335 children topped the list of eye problem cases followed by Uppal (283) and Manchal (250). "All the children were provided free spectacles soon after the schools reopened in June," said the Collector. But for the swift action by the authorities these kids would have dropped out of school, it is said. Now the teachers are asked to monitor how many of them are wearing the glasses.

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