In India alone, over five million people are reported to be blind from bilateral cataract and by the year 2020 the elderly population of 60yr and above is expected to double from today’s number, increasing the number of blinds even more.

Continuing with the holy mission of restoring the vision of poorest of poor who have lost their eyesight due to cataract and are unable to afford any modern or reliable medical aid due to their economically backward condition, Shanti Mandir organized 11^th rural eye camp at Manglore on 6^th Oct 2004. As per the English calendar, Mahamandleshwar Swami Nityanandji’s (affectionalety called by his devotees as Gurudev) birthday falls on 6^th October. Perhaps the most beautiful and compassionate gift which Gurudev could give on his birthday was the restoration of vision to underprivileged people by bringing the cataract surgery within the reach of poor people in remote areas.  Manglore is a large village near Roorkee in district Haridwar having a population of about 43000 people with predominantly muslims. The camp was held in Saraswati Shishoo Mandir which is a school upto 8^th standard with 300 students. Manglore is also a large whole sale market for Jaggery in North India.

As done in the past, the camp was organized in association with Ganga Mata Charitable Eye Hospital & Research Centre, Haridwar and Government Pensioners Welfare Organisation, Roorkee. This hospital is equipped with all the modern facilities for not only intra ocular lens transplant but also for any kind of advanced surgery of the eye and retina. Dr. Anita Sanyal who heads the ophthalmology department is a highly experienced surgeon who has performed all type of surgeries on thousands of patients till date. While the medical treatment including clinical examination, surgery, transplant and post operative care is rendered by this hospital, the administrative coordination is performed by the Pensioners Welfare Organisation of Roorkee who are responsible for reaching out to those villagers who are in genuine need and also for counseling them. Shanti Mandir plays the role of a lead facilitators in organizing these camps and the entire financial aid required for camp is funded by Shanti Mandir out of generous donations made by the devotees across the world.

A group of about 15 devotees from New Delhi went for the eye camp on 6^th Oct 2004 to supervise the overall arrangements under the guidance of Dr. Madhu Chadha, Shri Madan Gopal Shrama and Shri Ram Mohan Sharma. The group reached the village at 9 a.m. in the morning and found that about 300 patients had assembled there. Before the commencement of the camp, President of the Pensioners Welfare Organisation addressed the congregation and lauded the missionary zeal with which Shanti Mandr is pursuing the noble task of restoration of vision to the poor people. He thanked Gurudev Swami Nityanandji Maharaj for his active involvement and sought his blessings and continued support.

Immediately thereafter registration process began and the doctors started the clinical examination which continued upto 3:30 p.m. In all 683 patients were registered and examined in the camp, out of which 119 were diagnosed as cataract blind and identified for free cataract surgery and free intra-ocular lens transplant. The rest of the patients were treated in the camp and medicines were distributed to them free of charge. The devotees from New Delhi actively participated in helping the old and aged patients for their medical check up and later distributed prasad packets to each patient. Out of the 119 patients identified for surgery, 25 patients  were taken to the hospital for admission and operation on 6^th Oct itself. The balance patients were also operated upon in phases during next 5 days.

With the conclusion of this 11^th eye camp, so far 1263 number of patients have been operated upon for cataract and intra ocular lens transplant  and their vision restored without a single case being reported for any kind of post surgical complications.

Earlier only one camp per year was being organised by Shanti Mandir. However keeping in view, the ever increasing number of poor people who have lost their vision due to cataract, Gurudev is now conducting these camps twice a year.

Your continued compassion and support will ensure the continuation of this offering.

Sadgurunath Maharaj Ki Jai.