Karnataka to launch 393 Asha Kirana vision centres to tackle preventable blindness-OxBig News Network

To tackle preventable blindness, Karnataka’s Health Department has expanded and restructured the Asha Kirana programme under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment. As part of the restructured initiative, 393 Asha Kirana vision centres will be launched in public health facilities across the State simultaneously on July 3.

Announcing this on Tuesday (July 1, 2025), Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told presspersons that the initiative is aimed at increasing awareness and access to eye health services, particularly targeting cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors— the two major causes of vision impairment in the country. 

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will inaugurate a vision centre in Bengaluru on July 3 and all the 393 centres will be launched simultaneously on the same day, he said.

The programme was earlier carried out through doorstep screenings by Asha workers and field staff from the Health Department on a campaign mode. However, henceforth people can visit the vision centres in the public health facilities at their convenience and get screened for eye problems, the Minister added.