Essilor’s inclusive business, 2.5 New Vision Generation (2.5 NVG), has partnered with Apollo Tyres Foundation (ATF) to provide vision check-up and affordable 2.5 NVG spectacles to truck drivers in India through ATF’s health centers.
ATF, a not-for-profit organization which implements CSR activities for Apollo Tyres Ltd, currently operates 31 health centers across India. The health centers offer a range of healthcare services to the trucking community including doctor consultation, HIV tests, TB tests, and through this partnership, vision check-ups and vision correction options.
2.5 NVG has worked with ATF since 2017, training their community of outreach staff at health centers and providing affording 2.5 NVG spectacles for all their vision-related initiatives. ATF has also procured ClickCheck devices to do preliminary vision screenings during community outreach activities at the health centers.
In March 2021, the partnership was strengthened with the opening of the inaugural Vision Testing Center at ATF’s Agartala health center. Located at the extreme north east and most remote point in India, the center is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments along with ClickCheck and will provide quality vision screening and vision correction options for truck drivers in this remote location.
Essilor’s 2.5 NVG was created in 2013 to find new and sustainable ways to provide vision care to underserved populations without access to conventional distribution channels. Through the ATF partnership, the vision of 13,839 truck drivers has been corrected. In 2021, 2.5 NVG and ATF have plans to ramp up efforts and are aiming to equip 5,000 truck drivers with 2.5 NVG glasses this year in line with latest safety guidance against COVID-19.