The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
ANGUL, JANUARY 23, 2021
Leading steelmaker of the country, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) rolled out a programme for providing primary eye health services for the truck drivers in its Angul integrated steel plant. The programme was launched aligning to the spirit of observation of National Road Safety Month (January 18-February 17) by JSPL.
The programme, envisioned by JSPL Chairman Naveen Jindal, was inaugurated by JSPL Foundation Chairperson Shallu Jindal at Angul today.
JSPL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sightsavers India, a leading organisation working towards protecting the eyesight for the service providers.
Expressing happiness over the actualisation of his vision in rolling out of the programme for eye health check-up and remedial measures for the truck drivers, the JSPL Chief in his message said, “Truck drivers play a pivotal role in economic activities of the country. Though they are the silent movers of the economy, their contribution is hardly recognised. Through this initiative, JSPL aims at ensuring healthy eye of all our driver friends and also at better road safety”.
Inaugurating the Programme, Shallu Jindal said, “This initiative with Sightsavers India to provide primary eye healthcare is part of our mission to improve the quality of life of people at large. Our drivers are frontline contributors for equitable development of the country. This programme not only provides primary and referral eye care services, but also includes provision for providing required spectacles and awareness drive.”
Thanking the Sightsavers India Team and Angul District Administration for their collaboration with JSPL Foundation for this noble cause, the JSPL Foundation Chairperson solicited the blessings of Lord Jagannath for taking forward this initiative to the next level across the country.
Sightsavers India as an implementing partner for this programme, will offer primary health service through a vision care centre equipped with necessary eye care equipment, devises and infrastructure. A team of Optometrist, Community Health Worker and Ophthalmic Assistant will provide eye care services like screen and refraction. The truck drivers identified with refractive errors will be provided with spectacles and those who need more detailed check-up shall be referred to the hospitals. The programme targets to cover more than 1,500 truck drivers in next four months.
“Sightsavers is delighted to partner with JSPL at providing eye care services to truck drivers. The program shall work towards road safety and supporting eye care services for needy and marginalized target groups like truck drivers,” said Sightsavers India’s Head Corporate Fundraising Jatin Tiwari.
For the programme, JSPL shall be providing necessary financial support that attempts to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 i.e. to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
Truck drivers would be sensitised on eye health through various IEC and Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) activities.
Additional District Magistrate (Revenue), Angul Santosh Kumar Pradhan, Regional Transport Officer, Angul Bibhanjan Samantsinghray, JSPL’s President and Head (Group CSR & Sustainability Prashant Hota, General Manager (CSR) Puspalata Satapathy, Eye Specialists of District Headquarters Hospital, Angul Dr. Nilamadhab Pradhan, Sightsavers India’s Asst. Manager (Corporate Partnerships) Supratim Sahu, Zonal Coordinator Suman Chakraborty and other officials were present on the occasion.
