Lok Sabha Question No. 3294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-05
Subject: Blindness
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3294 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH AUGUST, 2016

## BLINDNESS

## 3294. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India is one of the countries worst affected by blindness;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the number  of  visually  impaired  persons  in  the  country,  particularly  in  the  rural State/UT - wise;
- (d) the funds allocated and spent to deal with blindness during each of the last three yea current year, State/UT - wise; and
- (e) the steps tak en or proposed to be taken by the Government to check the rising number o cases of blindness in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) & (b) : As per the WHO Global Data on Visu al Impairments 2010, China accounts for 20.9% and India 20.5% of the total blindness in the classified 8 WHO regions.  As per the Survey on avoidable blindness (RAAB) conducted under the National Programme for Control o Blindness (NPCB), the Ministr y of Health and Family Welfare,  during the year 2006 - 07,  the prevalence of blindness in India was found to be 1%.  The reasons of blindness are:
1. Cataract 62%
2. Refractive Errors 23%
3. Glaucoma 5%
4. Retinal disorder 5%
5. Others 10%

However, around 85% of this is treatable through medical and surgical interventions.

Contd……..

(c) : The details of estimated visually impaired persons in the country including rural State/UT - wise, is at Annexure - I.

(d) : The details of financial assistance provided to States/UTs during Financial Year 2013- 14 and 2014 - 15 is at Annexure - II - A.

From  FY  2015- 16  onwards,  five  Programmes  i.e.  National  Programme  for  Control  of Blindness  (NPCB),  National  Mental  Health  Program me  (NMHP),  National  Programme  for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE), National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) & National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancers, Diabetes Cardiovascular Diseases and Str (NPCDCS) have been merged into Flexible Pool for Non - Communicable Diseases to improve the  operational  flexibility  of  the  States/UTs.    Accordingly,  information  related  to  a release and expenditure under NCD Flexible Pool under National Health Mission (NHM) durin the FY 2015 - 16 and 2016 - 17 is at Annexure - II -B.

(e) : The following steps have been taken under NPCB to check the rising number of cases blindness in the country:

- i) Decentralized implementation of NPCB through State/District Health Societies for c monitoring and supervisio n;
2. ii)Reduction in the backlog of blind persons by active screening of population abov years, organizing eye screening  camps and transporting operable cases to fixed eye - care facilities for operation/treatment;
3. iii) Provision  for  free  cataract  operations through  Government  and  Non - Government Organization (NGO) Eye Hospitals;
4. iv)Provision  for  treatment  of  other  eye  diseases  like,  diabetic  retinopathy,  gl management, laser techniques, corneal transplantation, vitreo - retinal  surgery,  treatment of childhoo d blindness etc. as new initiatives;
- v) Involvement of private practitioners in eye care services;
6. vi)Screening of children for identification and treatment of refractive errors and dis of free spectacles to those suffering from refractive errors under School Eye Screening Programme;
7. vii) Screening  and  distribution  of  free  spectacles  to  elderly  population  sufferin presbyopia;

viii) Collection of donated eyes for corneal transplantation;

- ix)In- service  training  to  eye  surgeons  in  various  fields  of  ophthalmology  to refresh  and develop skills;
- x) Strengthening/developing of eye - care infrastructure at various levels to improve quantit and quality of eye - care services;
- xi)Provision  for  setting  up  Multipurpose  District  Mobile  ophthalmic  Units  in  Dis Hospitals to improve coverage area.

| ANNEXURE-I                       | ANNEXURE-I                       | ANNEXURE-I                             | ANNEXURE-I                                         |
|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| Estimated Blind Persons in India | Estimated Blind Persons in India | Estimated Blind Persons in India       | Estimated Blind Persons in India                   |
| S.No.                            | State/UTs                        | Prevalence Blindness (Survey 2001- 02) | of Estimated Persons acuity <6/60) NPCB definition |
| 1                                | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR                | 1.10                                   | 3,919                                              |
| 2                                | ANDHRA PRADESH                   | 1.42                                   | 10,75,331                                          |
| 3                                | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                | 2.28                                   | 24,877                                             |
| 4                                | ASSAM                            | 3.05                                   | 8,12,471                                           |
| 5                                | BIHAR                            | 0.78                                   | 6,46,455                                           |
| 6                                | CHANDIGARH                       | 1.01                                   | 9,099                                              |
| 7                                | CHHATITISGARH                    | 1.61                                   | 3,34,815                                           |
| 8                                | DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI             | 1.07                                   | 2,359                                              |
| 9                                | DAMAN & DIU                      | 1.07                                   | 1,691                                              |
| 10                               | DELHI                            | 1.13                                   | 1,55,748                                           |
| 11                               | GOA                              | 1.52                                   | 20,429                                             |
| 12                               | GUJARAT                          | 1.07                                   | 5,41,388                                           |
| 13                               | HARYANA                          | 1.89                                   | 3,98,468                                           |
| 14                               | HIMACHAL PRADESH                 | 0.70                                   | 42,541                                             |
| 15                               | JAMMU & KASHMIR                  | 1.61                                   | 1,62,126                                           |
| 16                               | JHARKHAND                        | 1.41                                   | 3,79,423                                           |
| 17                               | KARNATAKA                        | 1.78                                   | 9,38,664                                           |
| 18                               | KERALA                           | 0.56                                   | 1,78,296                                           |
| 19                               | LAKSHADWEEP                      | 1.10                                   | 667                                                |
| 20                               | MADHYA PRADESH                   | 1.16                                   | 7,00,467                                           |
| 21                               | MAHARASHTRA                      | 0.95                                   | 9,19,146                                           |
| 22                               | MANIPUR                          | 1.38                                   | 32,963                                             |
| 23                               | MEGHALAYA                        | 0.74                                   | 17,065                                             |
| 24                               | MIZORAM                          | 0.78                                   | 6,950                                              |
| 25                               | NAGALAND                         | 1.05                                   | 20,881                                             |
| 26                               | ORISSA                           | 1.40                                   | 5,13,897                                           |
| 27                               | PONDICHERRY                      | 0.78                                   | 7,596                                              |
| 28                               | PUNJAB                           | 1.01                                   | 2,45,322                                           |
| 29                               | RAJASTHAN                        | 1.55                                   | 8,75,333                                           |
| 30                               | SIKKIM                           | 0.65                                   | 3,513                                              |
| 31                               | TAMIL NADU                       | 0.78                                   | 4,84,465                                           |
| 32                               | TRIPURA                          | 0.77                                   | 24,572                                             |
| 33                               | UTTAR PRADESH                    | 0.94                                   | 15,60,897                                          |
| 34                               | UTTRANCHAL                       | 0.56                                   | 47,486                                             |
| 35                               | WEST BENGAL                      | 1.19                                   | 9,54,632                                           |
|                                  | TOTAL                            | 1.10                                   | 1,21,43,952                                        |

Source: Blindness survey 2001-02.

## Annexure-II-A

## Statement showing State/UT-wise Allcation, Release & Expenditure under NPCB for the F.Ys 2013-14 and 2014-15

Rs. In Crores

| Sl. No.   |                           | 2013-14    | 2013-14   | 2013-14     | 2014-15    | 2014-15   | 2014-15     |
|-----------|---------------------------|------------|-----------|-------------|------------|-----------|-------------|
| Sl. No.   | States/Uts                | Allocation | Release   | Expenditure | Allocation | Release   | Expenditure |
| 1         | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 0.61       | 0.22      | -           | 0.60       | 0.24      | 0.19        |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh            | 14.29      | 3.87      | -           | 3.50       | 4.34      | -           |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh         | 1.06       | 0.59      | 0.86        | 3.00       | 2.57      | -           |
| 4         | Assam                     | 10.46      | 8.43      | 8.20        | 13.00      | 13.00     | 11.98       |
| 5         | Bihar                     | 13.24      | -         | 5.42        | 5.00       | 4.24      | -           |
| 6         | Chandigarh                | 0.79       | -         | 0.28        | 0.56       | 0.41      | 0.58        |
| 7         | Chattisgarh               | 5.78       | 2.61      | 10.12       | 6.80       | 6.72      | 3.29        |
| 8         | Dadra & Nagar Haveli      | 1.24       | -         | 0.35        | 0.60       | 0.10      | 0.28        |
| 9         | Daman & Diu               | 0.37       | -         | -           | 0.40       | 0.10      | 0.21        |
| 10        | Delhi                     | 1.65       | -         | -           | 2.89       | 2.01      | 1.11        |
| 11        | Goa                       | 2.37       | 0.35      | 0.97        | 2.00       | 1.18      | 0.60        |
| 12        | Gujarat                   | 12.30      | 8.44      | 14.36       | 15.00      | 15.00     | 23.48       |
| 13        | Haryana                   | 3.83       | -         | 3.59        | 3.00       | 3.00      | 2.73        |
| 14        | HimachalPradesh           | 1.52       | -         | -           | 1.41       | -         | 1.41        |
| 15        | Jammu & Kashmir           | 4.43       | -         | 0.67        | 4.00       | 3.34      | 1.34        |
| 16        | Jharkhand                 | 7.46       | 5.40      | -           | 4.00       | 3.35      | -           |
| 17        | Karnataka                 | 12.71      | 6.86      | 13.39       | 12.80      | 12.65     | 11.36       |
| 18        | Kerala                    | 5.04       | 2.16      | 6.04        | 4.00       | 3.26      | 1.06        |
| 19        | Lakshadweep               | 0.60       | -         | 0.12        | 0.50       | 0.60      | -           |
| 20        | Madhya Pradesh            | 14.24      | -         | -           | 5.00       | 3.00      | 13.08       |
| 21        | Maharashtra               | 16.95      | 11.03     | 28.26       | 4.50       | 4.50      | 13.95       |
| 22        | Manipur                   | 3.00       | 2.14      | 2.64        | 5.00       | 4.96      | 0.18        |
| 23        | Meghalaya                 | 2.55       | 0.52      | 0.92        | 3.00       | 1.48      | -           |
| 24        | Mizoram                   | 2.00       | 0.90      | 3.18        | 3.00       | 2.65      | 1.90        |
| 25        | Nagaland                  | 2.70       | 0.83      | -           | 3.00       | 1.11      | -           |
| 26        | Orissa                    | 8.23       | 2.11      | 9.10        | 9.20       | 9.02      | 8.62        |

| 27    | Pondicherry   | 1.41   | 0.79   | 1.01   |   1.75 |   1.73 | -      |
|-------|---------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| 28    | Punjab        | 5.64   | 4.23   | 2.71   |   4.5  |   4.45 | 5.83   |
| 29    | Rajasthan     | 13.46  | 4.29   | 8.55   |  11.5  |  11.25 | 9.55   |
| 30    | Sikkim        | 1.82   | 0.49   | 0.83   |   2    |   1.71 | 1.15   |
| 31    | Tamil Nadu    | 14.68  | -      | 14.23  |  17.5  |  17.45 | 30.40  |
| 32    | Tripura       | 2.06   | -      | 0.84   |   3    |   2.52 | 0.73   |
| 33    | Uttar Pradesh | 25.44  | 10.90  | -      |   7    |   3.87 | 19.66  |
| 34    | Uttarakhand   | 2.29   | 1.05   | -      |   5.2  |   5.11 | 5.63   |
| 35    | West Bengal   | 13.78  | 10.34  | 7.92   |   7    |   7    | 9.10   |
| 36    | Telangana     |        |        |        |   2.5  |   3    | -      |
| TOTAL | TOTAL         | 230.00 | 88.56  | 144.58 | 177.71 | 160.93 | 179.39 |

## Note:

1. Allocation is per Original outlay/B.E.
2. The above  Releases relate to Central Govt. Grants & do not include state share contribution.
3. Expenditure includes  expenditure against central Release, state release & unspent balances at the beginning of

Annexure - II - B Statement showing State/UT -wise Allocation, Release and Expenditure under NCD Flexible Pool under NHM for the

## 2015-16 and 2016 - 17

Rs. In Crore

| Sl. No   | Name of State             | 2015-16    | 2015-16   | 2015-16     | 2016-17    | 2016-17   | 2016-17       |
|----------|---------------------------|------------|-----------|-------------|------------|-----------|---------------|
| Sl. No   | Name of State             | Allocation | Release   | Expenditure | Allocation | Release   | Expe nditu re |
| 1        | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 0.73       | 0.55      | 0.11        | 1.21       | -         | -             |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh            | 17.66      | 14.78     | 18.67       | 17.49      | -         | -             |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh         | 7.81       | 5.7       | 1.28        | 7.81       | -         | -             |
| 4        | Assam                     | 44.44      | 35.78     | 22.30       | 44.44      | -         | -             |
| 5        | Bihar                     | 36.43      | 22.34     | 10.77       | 36.08      | -         | -             |
| 6        | Chandigarh                | 0.25       | 0.69      | 0.72        | 0.42       | -         | -             |
| 7        | Chattisgarh               | 14.99      | 8.47      | 5.36        | 14.85      | -         | -             |
| 8        | Dadra & Nagar Haveli      | 0.66       | 0.63      | 1.07        | 1.09       | -         | -             |
| 9        | Daman & Diu               | 0.47       | 0.35      | 0.11        | 0.78       | -         | -             |
| 10       | Delhi                     | 4.05       | 2.23      | 1.62        | 6.72       | -         | -             |
| 11       | Goa                       | 0.47       | 0.23      | 1.43        | 0.46       | -         | -             |
| 12       | Gujarat                   | 21.53      | 20.98     | 34.71       | 21.32      | -         | -             |
| 13       | Haryana                   | 7.67       | 4.93      | 4.90        | 7.60       | -         | -             |
| 14       | Himachal Pradesh          | 6.55       | 4.78      | 6.19        | 6.48       | -         | -             |
| 15       | Jammu & Kashmir           | 14.73      | 8.16      | 7.18        | 14.59      | -         | -             |
| 16       | Jharkhand                 | 15.26      | 10.57     | 4.07        | 15.11      | -         | -             |
| 17       | Karnataka                 | 21.56      | 14.29     | 20.92       | 21.34      | -         | -             |
| 18       | Kerala                    | 9.33       | 5.18      | 8.94        | 9.24       | -         | -             |
| 19       | Lakshadweep               | 0.12       | 0.07      | 0.37        | 0.21       | -         | -             |
| 20       | Madhya Pradesh            | 35.75      | 26.82     | 26.46       | 35.40      | -         | -             |
| 21       | Maharashtra               | 38.05      | 27.54     | 29.67       | 37.68      | -         | -             |
| 22       | Manipur                   | 5.00       | 3.08      | 1.62        | 5.00       | -         | -             |
| 23       | Meghalaya                 | 5.31       | 2.46      | 0.98        | 5.31       | -         | -             |
| 24       | Mizoram                   | 2.85       | 1.42      | 4.60        | 2.85       | -         | -             |
| 25       | Nagaland                  | 3.66       | 2.63      | 2.17        | 3.66       | -         | -             |
| 26       | Orissa                    | 19.74      | 16.19     | 21.08       | 19.55      | -         | -             |
| 27       | Puducherry                | 0.31       | 0.29      | 0.52        | 0.52       | -         | -             |

| 28   | Punjab        |   8.43 |   6.71 |   11.39 |   8.35 | -   | -   |
|------|---------------|--------|--------|---------|--------|-----|-----|
| 29   | Rajasthan     |  36.05 |  27.04 |   40.78 |  35.7  | -   | -   |
| 30   | Sikkim        |   1.27 |   0.95 |    4.2  |   1.27 | -   | -   |
| 31   | Tamil Nadu    |  21.66 |  17.16 |   51.23 |  21.45 | -   | -   |
| 32   | Tripura       |   5.32 |   2.55 |    2.97 |   5.32 | -   | -   |
| 33   | Uttar Pradesh |  72.51 |  54.39 |   35.43 |  71.81 | -   | -   |
| 34   | Uttarakhand   |   8.99 |   6.62 |    1.78 |   8.9  | -   | -   |
| 35   | West Bengal   |  25.09 |  13.03 |   14.18 |  24.85 | -   | -   |
| 36   | Telangana     |  12.63 |   9.41 |    6.15 |  12.5  | -   | -   |
|      | Total         | 527.36 | 379    |  405.97 | 527.36 | -   | -   |

## Note:

1. Allocation is per Original outlay/B.E.
2. The above  Releases relate to Central Govt. Grants & do not include state share contribution. Release  f - 17 is updated upto 08.07.2016 and is provisional.
3. Expenditure includes  expenditure against central Release, state release & unspent balances at the begin Expenditure for the F.Y. 2015 - 16 (upto 31.03.2016 as per FMR) are provisional.