- SVNM Trust plans a 200-bed super-speciality eye hospital in Navsari, with 21 operation theatres and an annual capacity of 1.2 lakh surgeries
- VISION BEYOND TREATMENT: Proposed facility aims to make advanced eye care accessible to underserved communities at affordable or zero cost.
- A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE: The planned hospital at Supa village will offer specialised treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disorders and corneal conditions.
- HEALING WITH DIGNITY: Rehabilitation and vocational training will help visually impaired people develop independent-living skills and pursue employment.
- A PROVEN SERVICE RECORD: Trust reports more than 420 eye camps, 51,800-plus screenings and 11,531 free surgeries between 2023 and 2026.
- A CALL FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION: Philanthropists, corporate CSR partners and institutions are invited to support the ambitious healthcare initiative.
R MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, OCTR 28
For someone living in darkness because of an untreated eye condition, restored vision can mean much more than the ability to see—it can reopen the doors to education, employment, independence and dignity. Seeking to take this life-changing possibility to underserved communities, the Swami Vivekananda Netra Mandir Trust (SVNM Trust) plans to build Drashti Dham, a ₹450-crore super-speciality eye hospital at Supa village in Navsari district, with a proposed capacity of 1.2 lakh eye surgeries annually.
The project envisages a 200-bed hospital spread across approximately 16 bighas, equipped with 21 operation theatres and 64 outpatient department (OPD) rooms. The Trust aims to make advanced ophthalmic treatment available to economically disadvantaged patients at highly affordable rates or free of cost.
The initiative is part of the Trust’s broader Ghar Ghar Drashti mission to prevent avoidable blindness, extend eye-care services to remote communities and empower people living with visual disabilities.
According to the Trust’s project announcement, the hospital is expected to be ready by 2030.
Dr. Bhavinbhai Patel, President of SVNM Trust, said the proposed hospital would provide specialised treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disorders and corneal conditions, including corneal transplantation.
“Our primary goal is to relieve the pain of every patient suffering from eye diseases and bring a smile back to their faces. The hospital’s main mission is to extend top-tier, highly affordable or completely free eye care to the most underserved sections of society,” he said.
The proposed annual capacity of 1.2 lakh surgeries represents the project’s long-term ambition; the actual number performed will depend on the hospital’s operational capacity, staffing and resources.
BEYOND SURGERY: REHABILITATION AND SELF-RELIANCE
Drashti Dham’s vision extends beyond medical intervention. A rehabilitation centre is also planned for people who have completely lost their eyesight, with training designed to help them navigate everyday life and regain independence.
Dr. Dishantbhai Gandhi, CEO of SVNM Trust, said: “At Drashti Dham in Supa village, a rehabilitation centre will be established for completely visually impaired individuals. It will support people who have lost their eyesight with the everyday challenges they face—providing guidance and training for self-reliance in daily life tasks such as walking, navigating surroundings, using mobile phones and computers, and cooking.”
The programme will also offer educational and employment-oriented vocational training, helping visually impaired individuals acquire practical skills and improve their prospects of economic independence.
“The hospital will be ready by 2030. With this, patients in need of advanced eye treatment can avail this facility. They need not visit Chennai or other major cities for advanced treatment. We will gradually cover Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and other neighbouring states over a period of time,” Dr. Gandhi added.
A TRACK RECORD OF COMMUNITY EYE CARE
The proposed hospital builds on the Trust’s ongoing outreach initiatives. According to Niravbhai Patel, a Trust volunteer, its Project Drashti conducted more than 420 eye-screening camps between 2023 and 2026, screening over 51,800 people and facilitating 11,531 free surgeries.
Other initiatives include Drashtimitra, which trains young women from remote villages for healthcare-related careers, and the SVNM Pragnyachakshu Skill Development and Training Centre, which offers counselling, mobility training, industrial training and smartphone-use skills to people with visual disabilities. More than 40 young women are currently undergoing healthcare training under Drashtimitra, the Trust said.
The Chashma Rath initiative takes prescription spectacles to rural communities, while Ghar Ghar Drashti promotes door-to-door eye screening. A used-eyeglasses collection programme also seeks to make spectacles accessible to people who cannot afford new ones.
The Trust’s official website describes its mission as making quality eye care accessible irrespective of patients’ financial circumstances and helping people with visual disabilities become self-reliant.
A COMMUNITY MOVEMENT NEEDS COMMUNITY SUPPORT
To mobilise public participation in the proposed hospital, the Trust organised Ghar Ghar Drashti – From Vision to Service, a cultural programme featuring renowned artist Mayabhai Ahir, at the AUDA Auditorium near Karnavati Club in Ahmedabad on October 27.
A nine-day Shri Ram Katha by spiritual leader Morari Bapu is scheduled to be held at the Swami Vivekananda Netra Mandir campus in Supa village from December 5 to 13, 2026.
Your contribution can help bring light to millions
With Drashti Dham envisioned as a ₹450-crore healthcare initiative, the SVNM Trust is seeking support from philanthropists, corporate houses, CSR foundations, institutions and members of the public to help turn this ambitious vision into reality. Contributions can support the expansion of advanced eye-care facilities, affordable or free treatment for underprivileged patients, and rehabilitation and vocational training for people with visual disabilities.
Individuals and organisations interested in supporting the initiative can contact the Swami Vivekananda Netra Mandir Trust through its official website.
For donors, the larger promise is tangible: helping more people receive timely treatment, retain or regain their sight wherever medically possible, and live with greater independence and dignity.
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