Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 21, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version
Online edition of India's National Newspaper Monday, Apr 21, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tamil Nadu |
 |
News:
ePaper |
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Retail Plus | Classifieds | Jobs | Obituary |
Tamil Nadu
With a vision: A quarry worker being screened during a free eye camp organised by the District Supply and Marketing Society in Pudukottai. PUDUKOTTAI: Workers attached to stone-quarries are more prone to some eye-ailment or the other, the most common among them being eye-ulcer, irritation due to deposit of dust, early incidence of short-sight or long-sight problem. What is more concerning is that they are not aware of the ailment for a prolonged period. The district administration, which has leased out about 35 quarries to the members of self-help groups (SHGs), has come out with an innovative programme of organising free eye camp for early detection and cure of various eye ailments. Each SHG comprises about 20 members and a total of 700 workers will be covered in a phased manner this year through the eye-camps, being organised in co-ordination with Sankara Netralaya and M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation at Annavasal, the District Collector, D. Uthirakkumaran, told ‘The Hindu’ here on Sunday. The instant distribution of spectacles by Sankara Netrayalaya and the co-ordination by the Foundation in identifying and motivating the villagers are the advantages of the programme. The maiden camp held recently at 9A Nattampannai village, near here has proved a success. “Fifteen out of total 120 workers who were screened were found inflicted with eye-ulcer,” says S. Sathyaseelan, Secretary of the District Supply and Marketing Society (DSMS), which oversees the maintenance and administration of the quarries leased out to the SHGs. An ophthalmologist from Sankara Netrayalaya, Sivasankaran, who screened the workers, made arrangements for the distribution of spectacles at subsidised price to 35 workers at the end of the camp. Similar camps would be held in phases at Annavasal, Tirumayam, Kunnandarkovil and Koppampatti – the areas with high density of stone quarries under the purview of DSMS. As a preventive measure, the DSMS has also planned to introduce the use of goggles at all its quarries. Here again, on a trial basis, the members of the ‘Kathiresanar SHG’ at Keezha Muthukadu village near Puduvayal in Annavasal block were trained on the use of goggles. “Although there was some inhibition in the initial phase, they have now got used to it, realising its safety aspects,” says the Collector. The village panchayat president of 9A Nathampannai village, Kennedy, had donated the goggles to the quarry workers in the village. The next eye camp is scheduled to be held at Lembalakudi village, about six km from Tirumayam shortly, the Collector said.
Printer friendly
page
News:
ePaper |
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | The Hindu ePaper | Business Line | Business Line ePaper | Sportstar | Frontline | Publications | eBooks | Images | Home |
Copyright © 2008, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
