AR Bhat
Access to specialised healthcare can often be difficult for people living in the remote and mountainous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, where distance, travel expenses and limited medical facilities create additional challenges. Addressing one such need, the Indian Army is organising a major eye-care initiative under Operation Drishti in Kashmir from September 23 to 30, offering free cataract surgeries to nearly 400 underprivileged civilians.
The initiative represents a specialised extension of the Army’s continuing healthcare outreach in the region. Unlike routine medical camps that generally provide consultations, medicines and basic health services, the programme is focused specifically on cataract treatment and surgery. By bringing experienced specialists closer to communities that may struggle to reach advanced medical centres, the initiative seeks to remove some of the practical barriers faced by patients requiring treatment.
The eye camp will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will take place from September 23 to 26 at the Field Surgical Centre in Tangdhar, Kupwara, while the second phase will run from September 27 to 30 at 92 Base Hospital, Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar. The two locations have been selected to extend the programme to patients from both remote border areas and other parts of the Kashmir Valley.
Tangdhar, situated in a remote area close to the Line of Control, presents particular challenges for residents who need specialised medical attention. For patients from surrounding villages, travelling to major hospitals can involve considerable time and expense. Holding the first phase of the camp in Tangdhar is therefore intended to bring the treatment facility closer to people who might otherwise find it difficult to undertake such a journey.
The second phase at 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar will provide treatment to patients identified through screening in different parts of the Valley. Experienced ophthalmic specialists from the Army Hospital Research and Referral in Delhi will join Army medical teams for the programme. Their involvement is expected to provide patients with access to specialised surgical expertise without requiring them to travel outside Jammu and Kashmir for the procedure.
Screening is an important component of the initiative. Medical teams are conducting examinations at designated field hospitals to assess patients, determine the severity of cataract and identify those who require surgery. Such preliminary assessment allows doctors to prioritise cases and prepare patients for the procedure and necessary follow-up care.
Cataract remains a common cause of vision impairment, particularly among older people. Because the condition usually develops gradually, its impact can sometimes be overlooked until routine activities become increasingly difficult. Reading, walking, cooking and recognising people can all become challenging when vision is significantly affected. Timely treatment, however, can help restore useful vision and enable patients to resume many of their normal activities.
For economically weaker families, the cost of specialised treatment can become an additional concern. In remote areas, the expense of travelling to a hospital, arranging accommodation and managing repeated visits can make access to treatment even more difficult. Providing surgery, medicines and related post-operative care free of cost at locations closer to the patients can therefore reduce both the financial and logistical burden.
The Operation Drishti camp is also part of a broader pattern of healthcare outreach undertaken by the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir. Medical assistance has remained an important element of its engagement with communities in areas where access to regular or specialised healthcare can be limited. Over the years, medical camps have included health examinations, medicines, specialist consultations and other forms of assistance.
The Army’s community outreach, however, extends beyond healthcare. Educational support has included study material, coaching and other initiatives aimed at helping students in remote areas. Skill-development activities have also been organised to help young people acquire practical abilities and improve their employment opportunities.
In times of natural emergencies, the Army has also played a role in relief and rescue operations. Floods, landslides, heavy snowfall and other emergencies can severely affect remote communities, particularly when roads and communication links are disrupted. Assistance in rescue efforts, distribution of essential supplies, medical support and restoration of basic connectivity has formed another part of the Army’s outreach.
Youth engagement has similarly received attention through sporting activities and community events. Football, cricket, volleyball and athletics programmes have provided young people with opportunities to participate in constructive activities while encouraging fitness, discipline and teamwork.
Within this wider outreach framework, Operation Drishti places the immediate focus on an essential aspect of public health—vision. The decision to hold the camp in two phases allows the programme to reach communities in a remote border area as well as patients from across the Valley. The screening process further ensures that those requiring cataract surgery can be identified before the surgical teams begin their work.
Nearly 400 civilians are expected to benefit from the initiative during the September 23–30 programme. For elderly and economically disadvantaged patients, receiving specialised treatment closer to home can mean more than simply avoiding travel. Restored vision can improve independence and make everyday activities easier.
The initiative also highlights the importance of taking specialised healthcare services closer to communities rather than expecting every patient to travel long distances for treatment. As Jammu and Kashmir continues to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure, such outreach programmes can complement regular medical services, particularly in geographically difficult areas.
Operation Drishti, therefore, adds a focused eye-care dimension to the Army’s continuing community outreach in Jammu and Kashmir. With specialised surgeons, pre-surgical screening and free treatment being brought closer to people in need, the programme seeks to turn medical assistance into a practical benefit for hundreds of civilians whose access to specialised eye care may otherwise remain difficult.
