Astrology  Chat  Cityscape  Classifieds  Entertainment  Health  Matrimonial 
Music  News  Panorama  Search  Shopping  Services  Tours & Travel  Home

SCB to fund Sankara Nethralaya project

Under its 'Seeing is Believing' campaign, Standard Chartered Bank has partnered with Sankara Nethralaya to conduct 1,000 free cataract surgeries for the poor and needy people in Tamil Nadu. The project commenced on February 5, 2004, and will be completed by June 2004.

At a function organised here on February 5, Chris Low, CEO, India Region, Standard Chartered Bank, presented a cheque of Rs. 12.50 lakh to Dr S S Badrinath, President and Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya.

Chris Low said his participation in the function was a humbling experience. The Bank would commit itself to funding the Nethralaya projects to perform surgeries for the poor, particularly children, he added.

The bank believed in discharging its social responsibility, he added.

As part of Standard Chartered Bank's 150th anniversary in 2003, a global fund raising campaign - 'Seeing is Believing' -- was launched that aimed to restore eyesight for nearly 30,000 persons globally (one for each Standard Chartered Bank employee). The Bank raised over US$ 1.44 million globally (enough to restore eyesight for 56,000 persons). In India, the Bank raised about US$ 200,000 from its staff and customers and is in the process of partnering with several organisations and NGOs across the country to restore eyesight to over 7,500 persons.

Scope International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank, UK, has also partnered with Sankara Nethralaya to support the cause of Paediatric Ophthalmology in the area of restorative surgeries for children. These surgeries vary from simple corrective surgeries to complicated cases such as retinal detachment, oculoplasty and vitreoretinal surgeries.

Chris Low said, "In India more than 12 million people are blind and many who have lost their sight are living in isolation and exclusion. A simple 20-minute cataract operation can make this person self-dependant. We are delighted to partner with Sankara Nethralaya - India's leading eye care institute to bring back the magic of sight for these people, as we truly believe that Seeing is Believing. As India's largest foreign Bank, we remain commited towards our responsibility as a corporate citizen."

Dr Badrinath said, "At our Silver Jubilee Commemoration last October, we, at Sankara Nethralaya, had taken a pledge to build a strong and powerful ophthalmic India. We are greatly heartened by the initiative of Standard Chartered Bank, by their campaign 'Seeing is Believing' and by their action in choosing us as a partner. Standard Chartered Bank is funding us for 1,000 surgeries, which I am confident, will grow in number as we go along."

Dr Badrinath added, "At this juncture, it is most appropriate to recall the words of Hellen Keller - "There's no lovelier way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to those in the dark". Standard Chartered Bank in their 'Seeing is Believing' is precisely aiming this noble objective."

RR

Recommend this page	Mail us your feedback