Telangana Today (India)
Thursday, November 16, 2017


“A total of 100 people have been trained at the Eye Mitra training centre in Warangal, since its inception, 50 of them have already set up their own stores and 20 more are going to set up outlets soon,” said Atul Uttam,Deputy Manager, Business Development, 2.5 New Vision Generation.

Warangal: Peddapally Ramya, an intermediatestudent, had to quit studies as she failed to clear one subject. Though she wasinterested in continuing studies, she could not due her poor familybackground.
But, now she is a proud owner of an optical store in Warangal Citycity. Thanks to the support provided by 2.5 New Vision Generation (NVG), an initiative of Essilor group.

Ramya underwent training inskill development under its ‘Eye Mitra’ programme. Ramya is now called EyeMitra Optician (EMO). The story of M Joshi from Jangaon town is also similar tothat of Ramya.
Joshi faced several hardships after high school, she lost her parents, got married but her marriage failed due to different various reasons. However, Joshi is now leading a comfortable life by setting her own optical store at Jangaon with the assistance of NVG.


“A total of 100 people have been trained at the Eye Mitra training centre in Warangal, since its inception, 50 of them have already set up their own stores and 20 more are going to set up outlets soon,” said Atul Uttam, Deputy Manager, Business Development,2.5 New Vision Generation.
Training is imparted by qualified optometrists, who follow stringent parameters of quality control.Thereafter, these candidates are supported through ‘on the job training’ for ten months and thereafter hand-held to set up their own small enterprise in their villages.

Eye Mitra Opticians (EMO) can conduct basic vision screening and dispense spectacles under the guidance of an optometrist. They refer complex cases to the nearby optometrists or ophthalmologists.
NVG started operations in Telangana in 2016, Uttam said and added that their target was to prepare 130 to 140 Eye Mitra Opticians (EMO) in the State by the end of next year.“The presence of EMOs will address the eye health issue at a primary level. Thus, the individuals from rural areas in need of a solution for vision problems need not travel to urban areas,” Uttam added.

Once they set up their shops, EMOs are recognised as Eye Mitras and they sign a franchise agreement with NVG. Thus, NVG also supports the Eye Mitras by providing them a business start-up kit worth Rs 30,000. They also help EMOs by providing a range of affordable and quality products such as readymade spectacles, frames,lenses, UV protective sunglasses etc.

In addition to this, the Eye Mitras are also provided with marketing support in terms of posters, banners,leaflets, branding of their stores, portable canopy, product display stands,etc.

Essilor started the Eye Mitra programme in 2013 and has a network of 2,600 Eye Mitra primary vision care providers across 14 States in India.Together they have screened over 4.8 million people and equipped nearly 1 million individuals with affordable eyeglasses. Essilor and its partners aim to train a total of 10,000 young Indian men and women as primary vision care providers by 2020. Eye Mitra programme won the prestigious FICCI 8th Healthcare Excellence Awards, 2016 in Skill Development category.

source:
https://telanganatoday.com/eye-mitra...changing-lives