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Bringing Sight to India’s Most Vulnerable Tribal Community: The Katkari People

Bringing Sight to India’s Most Vulnerable Tribal Community: The Katkari People

In Maharashtra’s brick kilns, where the Katkari community labours for survival, we met Gopal, a boy in a red shirt. The Katkari, one of India’s most marginalised tribal groups, endure a history of exclusion and bonded labour. Gopal hesitantly agreed to a vision test and was handed glasses that corrected his blurry distant vision. However, when he put them on, laughter erupted from neighbours. Overwhelmed and embarrassed, Gopal threw the glasses aside and ran into his home.

His sister Lalitha, embodying resilience and love, stepped forward next. With perfect 20/20 vision, she chose a pair of blue glasses with demo lenses to match her bright t-shirt, which read, “Believe in Yourself,” adorned with a rainbow. a fitting symbol of hope and optimism. Wearing the glasses confidently, she reassured Gopal and held his hand as he slowly emerged from the house.

Gopal with his siblingGopal’s face lit up as he tried his glasses again, this time with his sister’s support. He felt as if he had conquered the world. The moment was transformative, proving how a single pair of spectacles can change not just sight, but lives.

For 33 years, Vision Friend Sakib Gore has worked to uphold the right to sight, witnessing countless stories like Gopal’s that inspire hope and progress in underserved communities. Over the years, Vision Friend Sakib Gore has made remarkable strides, providing free eye checkups to 2 million people, distributing free spectacles to 1.5 million individuals, and performing free cataract surgeries for 56,000 people.

To bridge the awareness gap, especially in underserved communities, Vision Friend Sakib Gore has deployed a fleet of vehicles that Cover 1,217 villages, towns, and Tribal Hamlets, spreading awareness and conducting free eye screenings.