Alphons leads march to promote eye donation in country

Union minister K J Alphons today led a march in central Delhi to encourage eye donation in the country.
The initiative is part of 'Blindwalk', the world's largest campaign for eye donation, and it was held simultaneously in 250 locations today across five nations, he said.
"India has 1.5 cr people who are visually impaired and 20 per cent of them can see if eyes are donated. In India only about 25,000 people donate eyes," the union minister said, stressing that donations have to increase.
"Our message is that people should donate their eyes after death," said Alphons, who led around 600 people, including many visually impaired persons in the march.

The minister had earlier said that he would write to the information and technology, and health ministries to introduce a telephone hotline for eye donation and make it mandatory after death.