India, July 14, 2025 – CBM India participated in the 19th Annual Conference of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – INDIA, hosted at the Blind People’s Association (India) in Ahmedabad.  Themed “Breaking Barriers: Inclusion and Accessibility in Eye Care – A Step Towards Viksit Bharat 2047”, the conference highlighted the importance of inclusive and accessible eye health as essential to India’s development goals.

The three-day event brought together experts and institutions from across the country to deliberate on eliminating avoidable blindness and advancing equitable eye care for all, especially the most marginalized communities. It featured a dynamic program of scientific sessions, hands-on workshops, paper presentations, and strategy discussions focused on innovations, policy, and collaborative action in eye health.

As a longstanding advocate for disability rights, CBM India plays a key role in shaping the dialogue around inclusive eye care. The organization shared insights into critical themes, such as holistic and sustainable approaches to disability inclusion, community-based inclusive development, and inclusion in eye health.

“This year’s VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – INDIA Annual Conference comes at a pivotal time for our country, as the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 calls for renewed focus on equity, inclusion, and sustainability,” says Sony Thomas, Executive Director, CBM India. “The theme, ‘Breaking Barriers: Inclusion and Accessibility in Eye Care,’ invites us to rethink how we deliver services and build partnerships that prioritize access and affordability. As CBM India Trust, we are honored to contribute to this mission, working to ensure no one is denied quality eye care. Together, we must ensure that no one is left behind, not in vision and not in opportunity.”

CBM India's participation in the conference reflects their ongoing engagement in creating inclusive health systems that are more equitable and responsive to diverse needs. In December 2024, CBM India furthered this commitment by hosting a Consultative Meeting of the Karnataka State Eye Care Network, in partnership with VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – INDIA. The meeting brought together key stakeholders with the goal of framing a collaborative roadmap to achieve universal eye health coverage in Karnataka.

About CBM India Trust

CBM India is a leading not-for-profit development organization committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities and other marginalized communities. They work alongside persons with disabilities, their representative organizations, community-based organizations, institutions, and the government to remove cultural and environmental barriers to people with disabilities’ full participation in health, education, and livelihood opportunities. They aspire to create an inclusive society in which persons with disabilities achieve their full potential. In 2023-24, they reached over 32.9 lakh people in 26 states and union territories across India. Read more about CBM India at www.cbmindia.org