Chandigarh:
An Eye Donation Awareness Walk was organised from Rock Garden to Sukhna Lake,
Chandigarh, as part of the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight 2026, with the objective of
creating awareness about the importance of eye donation and corneal transplantation.
Dr. Jagat Ram, Former Director, PGIMER and Padma Shri awardee; Prof. Arun Grover, Former
Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University; and Dr. M.R. Dogra, Former Professor, Advanced Eye
Centre, graced the occasion as Chief Guests.
Prof. Usha Singh, HOD, Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Vaishali Gupta and Dr. Amit Gupta,
*along with the entire cornea faculty, Eye Bank staff, Optometry staff and Nursing students, actively
participated in the awareness walk.Faculty and students from the Nursing College, along with
members of Lions Club Chandigarh Central, also joined the initiative.
Around 250–300 participants took part in the walk and spread the message of eye donation among
the public. The participants carried forward the message that a simple pledge to donate eyes after
death can help restore vision and transform the lives of people suffering from corneal blindness.
As part of the awareness programme, Optometry students presented a nukkad natak (street
play) highlighting the importance of eye donation and encouraging members of the public to pledge
their eyes.
The event aimed to motivate more people to come forward for eye donation and contribute towards
reducing the burden of corneal blindness. The organisers emphasised that increased awareness and
voluntary eye donation can play a vital role in helping patients regain the gift of sight.
