M.K. Sharma, the health minister of Sikkim, launched “Ujjyalo,” a state-wide universal eye health programme, at the auditorium of the New STNM Hospital in Gangtok on Friday.

The project, sources said, has been initiated to develop Sikkim as the first avoidable blindness-free state of the country. It will be implemented by the state health and family welfare department of Sikkim, in association with Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital. The programme has been funded by CBM, an internationally known charitable organisation that has been working for years to eradicate avoidable blindness across the world.

Under the programme, around Rs 3 crore would be invested to create quality eye care spaces across Sikkim which can be accessible to people. It will also focus on children, people with disabilities and senior citizens and will ensure that they are provided with proper eye care.

“It has also been planned to identify 10 girls from humble families and provide them with free ophthalmic training for two years and integrate them back within their local communities so that they can cater to their eye care needs,” said a source.