Karnataka - Bidar   

There is light once again in their lives

Staff Correspondent

LENDING A HELPING HAND: Information technology professionals from Germany who are funding eye surgeries in Bidar.

Bidar: Shivamma, a farm labourer in Chalkapur in Bhalki taluk, could not go to work after her eyesight was affected. Doctors told her she was suffering from cataract and that treatment would cost a huge sum. She did not know what the term meant. What she knew, however, was that she could not afford the treatment.

The destitute women had no work and no one to look after in her old age. She was forced to do menial jobs and even beg at times.

At this time, she heard about an eye camp in Bidar. She came to the Velemegna Good News Hospital in Golekhana in October. She was asked to return in February when she would be operated.

Today, she has regained her eyesight and her livelihood. She cannot thank the hospital enough. "I thought I had no body to call my own. I was wrong," she says happily.

Over 500 persons from below the poverty line families were operated upon in the camp on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A Germany-based non-government organisation (NGO), Verein Zur Forderung Sozialer Projekte in Indien e. V, also called Hamara Bandhan, is funding the eye camp.

The NGO was started by a group of information technology professionals.

On Tuesday, some of the founders of the NGO came to Bidar to see if their money was being properly utilised.

Happy

"They are happy about the way we are carrying out the surgeries," says Cybil Mishrankar, director of the hospital.

"We were happy about our success in our chosen fields. But we felt there was something lacking in our lives. Then we started funding philanthropic initiatives and found it immensely satisfying," says Marcus

Ecstine, leader of the visiting team. Other members of Hamara Bandhan such as Thomas Sajo Henry, Lisa Pasel, Alexander Tonyreil, Anate Neider Gassel and Battle Friender, are also happy that their contributions are transforming lives in a developing country as India.

Their plans include setting up orphanages and providing interest free loans to the poor. Details of their various initiatives in Bidar and other places can be had from

www.hamara-bandhan.org. "We invite project proposals from voluntary organisations and other institutions," Mr. Ecstine said.

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There is light once again in their lives

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