See our recommended NGOs

The Shivram Mahatme Memorial Eye Welfare Charitable Trust (S. M. M. Eye Welfare Charitable Trust) was established with the aim of reducing blindness in the world. Its mission is to provide eye care facilities equivalent to international standards to the underdeveloped and underprivileged segments of society. They also look to expand expertise and knowledge through research, training and education and to develop eye care professionals for the benefit of mankind. The S. M. M. Eye Welfare Charitable Trust was built on the vision of Dr. Vikas Mahatme, an ophthalmologist who was moved by the needs of the underserved and unattended poor in the country.

The S. M. M. Eye Welfare Charitable Trust currently runs three eye hospitals in Nagpur, Mumbai and Amravati, which includes mobile eye care units at Gondia and Amravati. Their vision centre at Armori in Gadchiroli is the first telemedicine enabled Vision Centre in central India. Currently over 69% of patients at their hospitals are treated free of cost. The hospitals conduct an around-the-year Community Outreach Programme where their vehicles travel to remote tribal, rural and slum areas. A team comprising an ophthalmologist, ophthalmic technician and supporting staff check patients for various eye ailments and needy patients are brought to their base hospital in Nagpur for free surgical interventions. The S. M. M. Eye Welfare Charitable Trust sponsors their transportation, stay, food and all surgery-related expenses like lenses and postoperative medicines. They offer almost all ophthalmic subspecialties at an affordable cost. 142,872 out-patient department patients were checked in FY12-13. 44,699 patients were treated for free in their hospital in Nagpur.

They also run an eye bank with a cornea surgeon for patients. The Mahatme Eye Bank & Eye Hospital, Nagpur is a government recognized postgraduate teaching institute. The Government of India has also recognized it as a surgical training centre. Over 500 Indian ophthalmologists and more than 400 eye surgeons from outside India have been trained till now.