YSR Kanti Velugu

State Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) launched the YSR Kanti Velugu scheme to provide comprehensive free of cost eye care. Through this scheme, by providing free eye care, 80% of the cases of blindness can be prevented by distributing spectacles and performing cataract surgeries. This scheme also provides for various eye surgeries for the identified patients, if required.

The YSR Kanti Velugu scheme is a free eye check-up scheme implemented by the concerned government of Andhra Pradesh. This scheme aims to provide sustainable and comprehensive universal eye care to all the people of AP state. The YSR Kanti Velugu scheme also aims to strengthen the existing health facilities under the government sector. 

The entire population of AP state will benefit under the YSR Kanti Velugu scheme. The AP government wants to ensure better eyesight for all the citizens of the state. This scheme started with screening the eyes of the school children. The AP government will implement this scheme in six phases.

Implementation of YSR Kanti Velugu Scheme

Currently, the third phase of the YSR Kanti Velugu scheme is going on in AP. The AP government is implementing the YSR Kanti Velugu scheme program in six phases for a period of two and half years on a mission mode. The AP government has decided to conduct eye screening for people aged above 60 years in the third phase after successfully completing the first and second phases of this scheme.

The phases under the YSR Kanti Velugu scheme are as follows:

• Primary basic screening of school children
• Secondary screening and prescription of glasses
• Primary mass eye screening of the community
• Secondary mass screening and prescription of glasses
• Surgeries for cataract cases in government hospitals and tertiary eye care management at teaching hospitals, including regional eye hospitals

Objectives of YSR Kanti Velugu Scheme

• Sustainable and comprehensive universal eye care to all the people in the AP state.
• Conduct eye screening and provide appropriate interventions like surgeries in case of cataract, distribution of spectacles, retinopathy, glaucoma, corneal disorders etc., in a phased manner.
• The essential areas in services provision are accessibility, free of cost and quality.

Eligibility Criteria for YSR Kanti Velugu Scheme

Every resident of AP, i.e. about five crore people, are eligible for free eye care under this scheme.

Benefits Under YSR Kanti Velugu Scheme

The benefits provided to citizens under the YSR Kanti Velugu scheme are as follows:

• One of the main benefits of this scheme is the availability of free eye check-up for all the beneficiaries.
• Provides free of cost primary, secondary and tertiary eye care services.
• Facilitates surgeries for glaucoma, cataract, corneal disorders, retinopathy, etc.
• Provides spectacles instantly after identifying refractive errors.
• Ensures quality of the services given through continuous elevation and monitoring by the external agency, if required.
• Increase in the availability of the skilled workforce through capacity building.
• Strengthens the existing health facilities of the AP government.
• This scheme will benefit the private health facilities, screening, personnel for training and surgeries.