The Project Vision

The Project Vision: Anitha Chris Evert – Founder Member of The Project Vision and Proprietor of Beanbag Design

Tell us about yourself and your background

I was born and brought up in Bangalore, my schooling and college was also done here. I graduated from Jyoti Nivas College with a B Com degree from Bangalore University. I have over 20 years of business development, sales and marketing experience. I started Beanbag Design in 2005. Beanbag Design is an Integrated Marketing Communication service provider. Since its inception we work passionately every day on behalf of an incredibly diverse range of clients. The uncommon blend of customers reveals our greatest strengths – our ability to motivate clients and build brands in just about any business category, using every form of media and design technologies. Our domain expertise ranges from corporate business development, corporate marketing, client servicing, advertising, media, creative design, web design and development, content management to public relations.

There are 39 million people across the globe that are blind. India is now home to the world’s largest number of blind people with 15 million persons (WHO 2010). In my home State of Karnataka, a national survey on blindness has shown that barely 50 percent of the people in Karnataka have near normal vision and prevalence of blindness is more than the national average.

Covering 40,000 people all over the country, including 3,200 in Karnataka, a survey by the National Programme to Control Blindness has pointed out that 13.7 percent of the population in the State suffer from blindness as against the national average of 8.5 percent.

This shocking figure touched a few of us very deeply. We decided to do something. We started The Project Vision with the aim, “Let everyone see”. Fifty of us committed ourselves to two objectives: to make eye donation a norm in the society and to create opportunities for the permanently blind to live a descent life. The Project Vision was started in October 2013 and is registered under HOPE Society (Registered since 1990 -No. 423/90-91).

Since October 2013, we have been able to move ahead in this mission with a good amount of background work being created. Nearly 10,000 people have been motivated to pledge their eyes. We created several fully eye pledged institutions. Over 1,000 people have signed up as Vision Ambassadors.

Our motto and objective is “Let everyone see” and our mission is providing opportunity for every blind person to gain sight and to allow the permanently blind to live a full life.

What drove the need for this organization to be founded?

The need for eyesight treatment in India is increasing yearly:

India needs 140,000 cornea transplants yearly
Only 35,000 are donated yearly
More than 100,000 people are added to the waiting list every year

What’s your mission?

Our motto and objective is “Let everyone see” and our mission is providing opportunity for every blind person to gain sight and to allow the permanently blind to live a full life.

What are The Project Vision’s Goals?

Make Bangalore the eye donation capital of the world
A world class eye care hospital to cater to the suburban and rural areas beyond Bangalore
Manufacturing and distributing spectacles at production cost
Ensuring eye donation facilities across the state and country
Rehabilitation programs for permanently blind persons
Promoting the talents of blind people

Do you run any special programs?

Bangalore Blind Walk

This event was the first of its kind in the world. Coinciding with the National Eye Donation Fortnight we held two events in MG Road and Jayanagar in August 2014. It was a memorable event for the participants and a day of hope for the blind. 300 visually challenged people led over 1,500 persons in a ‘FEEL BEING BLIND’, walk with 300 volunteers.

Our goal is to provide an opportunity to experience what is blindness for the participants and through this to create awareness for the public about much needed eye donations.

Feel the pinch of being blind it’s a lifetime experience!

The 3rd event took place on 7th September 2014 – walk.theprojectvision.org

How do you fundraise?

We welcome contributions from members, volunteers, partners and corporates.

How can others help?

Pledge your eyes today and notify your family and next-of-kin about the pledge

Tell your family and friends about eye care and donation

Volunteer with us and become a Sight Ambassador

Encourage your organisation to work with us as a preferred supplier as part of CSR activities

Who are the faces behind the organisation?

Our Founder and Director is Fr. George Kannanthanam. We have 15 additional founder members and 35 people on our committee. We rely on two key mentors, Rev Dr James Kannanthanam, Provincial, Claretians and Shri Lukose Vellatharai, IAS

Our Key Partners include: