Essilor’s inclusive business, 2.5 New Vision Generation, hosted its 5th annual Eye Mitra Convention to celebrate over 1000 young vision care entrepreneurs from all across India. This year, the event took place in Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, and once again the level of energy and motivation did not disappoint.
Visitors from all over the world came to hear the life changing stories shared by many of the Eye Mitras in attendance. Guests included Astrid Bonfield, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and Andrew Bastawrous, CEO of Peek Vision.
About Eye Mitra
With only one qualified optometrist for every 25,000 people in rural areas, India suffers from a drastic shortage of eyecare professionals. As a result, more than half a billion Indians suffer from poor vision, costing an estimated USD 37 billion in lost productivity every year. Essilor’s Eye Mitra program (meaning “friend of the eyes”) is bringing vision care to rural India and contributing to the social and economic development of villages by creating livelihoods for local young unemployed villagers.
The initiative was launched in 2013 by Essilor’s inclusive business 2.5 New Vision Generation (2.5 NVG). Essilor and its partners aim to train a total of 10,000 young Indian men and women as primary vision care providers by 2020.