Minister KTR surprise checkings on 'Kanti Velugu'

Hyderabad, Aug 17: Telangana Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao appealed to the people to make good use of the Kanti Velugu programme and get their eye checkup done at the camps.

The State government had launched the Kanti Velugu programme on Wednesday to facilitate free eye testing, treatment, provision of spectacles and surgeries if need be as per the doctors' recommendations.

Calling Kanti Velugu programme, a historic step in public healthcare, the Minister appealed to the citizens to get their eye checkup done at the camps.

The Minister who conducted a surprise inspection of two eye camps at Chandanagar and Hafeezpet on Thursday morning said people were expressing their happiness with the programme. "I personally spoke to 15 to 20 people at the two camps and they all welcomed it," said Rao.

He said the Kanti Velugu programme will continu till Republic Day and appealed the citizens to get their eyes checked up at their convenience. Due to lack of awareness, most people do not get the diabetes tests and as a result eyes are the first to get affected, he said.

"Please do not neglect. Make good use of the Kanti Velugu programme. Government is conducting free eye tests, providing free medicines and spectacles and surgeries where required," Rao said.

Mayor Bonthu Rammohan visited a camp at Jubilee Hills Basti and spoke to the residents at the camp.

In addition to the free tests and checkups, there will be secondary and territory care by way of 37 eye-related surgeries in referral hospitals. Nearly 300 Self Help Groups have been roped in to distribute the receipts to the citizens intimating the location of the nearest camp and their slot for undergoing checkups.

Citizens must present their Aadhaar or Ration or Arogyasri card for registration of their eye tests at the camps. There are separate testing sections for men and women at the camps, Saturdays and Sundays will be holidays, said GHMC Additional Commissioner D Harichandana.

On Wednesday, nearly 5000 people had undergone checkups at the 150 camps set up across the city. On Thursday, officials expected over 15,000 people got their eye checkup done at the camps.