2008 News

SBI Life rolls out Corporate Social Responsibility initiative - "Gift Drishti", to restore vision of disadvantaged senior citizens

30^th December 2008

Incidence of cataract blindness, annually at 3.28 million, is one of the most prevalent health ailments suffered by senior citizens, particularly in rural pockets of our country. A majority of them are blind for want of a simple cataract operation. To restore vision among elderly citizens in the rural parts of the country, SBI Life has rolled out in partnership with Helpage India, a respected non-profit organization, their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project - "Gift Drishti". Restoring vision is done through Intra Ocular Surgery (IOL).

SBI Life’s Gift Drishti, initiated during this World Elder’s Day, on 1st October, 2008, received whole-hearted participation from SBI Life employees who made monetary contribution towards the cause. The company has donated an amount equivalent to twice the sum contributed by its employees.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr U S Roy, MD & CEO, SBI Life Insurance said, "Our corporate ethos has been to support the underprivileged and needy in society. We believe that Gift Drishti, will the impact lives of several senior citizens enabling them to be independent and self-reliant, so that too they can ’Celebrate Life’ ".

Mr. J Hari Narayan, Chairman, IRDA, Chief Guest at the formal function to mark this occasion, handed over the donation to Ms Indrani Rajadurai, National Director, HelpAge India.

The funds donated by SBI Life, will help Helpage India to conduct camps and perform cataract surgeries free-of-cost for the disadvantaged elderly people afflicted with cataract. HelpAge India would work with select charitable hospitals throughout the country after conducting screening camps in the slums and villages. This CSR project, aims to have restored vision of 1900 elderly people, across the country, in phases.