"We work with a network of resources such as independent eye surgeons, charitable eye hospitals/clinics as well as private eye hospitals who believe in philanthropy,” stated Percy Ghaswala, founder trustee of Ghaswala Vision Foundation, speaking to Parsiana on October 13, 2023.This requires a combination of skill and dil (heart),” he stated.
Theirs is a simple model, he said. "We facilitate the process of sight restoration for the poor and vulnerable sections of society referred to us by individuals, institutions, hospitals and doctors… The facilitation could be in terms of full or partial funding, hand-holding and guidance given to patients, especially in cases with co-morbidities and complications. At times, we also provide transportation and snacks in a few distressed cases that might need to travel long distances.”
"Although we have a large network of resources, we work mostly with the top 10-15 centers which offer good quality service at a reasonable price, the cost to the Foundation can vary between Rs 6,000 to 12,000” he stated. For a cataract surgery "the amount increases with increasing complexity, location and seniority of the surgeon. Surgery for a patient who is HIV positive will cost a lot more,” he stated.
From l: Percy, Ghaswala, Minoo Buhariwala, Vispi Jasumani and Divya Mathur
Each NGO (non governmental organization) goes through a background check. "They come mostly via referrals from known partners, so that first level of comfort is already there,” he stated.
The Foundation does not have a center of its own. Ghaswala works from his residence in Bombay. A team of about 15 interns who process data assists with the website and monitoring of operations.
Set up in 2002, the Foundation did sporadic work in its early years. "We were then mainly into advocacy for the seeing-impaired and networking for eye tests,” stated Ghaswala. There was a significant upswing in patients in 2021 when Ghaswala was approached by a Bihar NGO, Rising Sun Foundation. "The demand for cataract surgeries is huge in Patna besides a few stray cases of retinal detachment and trauma and accident… Our patients are mostly daily wage laborers working on farms. Their children also work but they can barely make ends meet. Many of them come to Patna to be operated since they hail from the interiors,” he stated. Besides Maharashtra and Bihar, the Foundation’s reach extends to Madhya Pradesh.A detailed presentation that Ghaswala shared with Parsiana showed the Foundation has catered to 782 unique patients so far, with a median age of 57. "Many of them come to us multiple times… Perhaps for a second cataract or a trauma,” he stated. The presentation indicates that the Foundation has spent about Rs 71.40 lakhs on its objectives, since inception. "We have both institution and retail donors… This model works best with donor engagement since we work in a niche area.” He listed the Godrej and FKS Foundations as significant benefactors. Future plans include a platform to connect eye donors and potential recipients and spreading awareness on the benefits of eye donation.
The other trustees of the Foundation are businessman Minoo Buhariwala who is into manufacturing, wealth adviser Vispi Jasumani and erstwhile teacher Divya Mathur who now serves as a motivational speaker.
Ghaswala is an alumnus of Hindi Vidya Bhavan and Bhavan’s College who obtained his masters in clinical biochemistry from Grant Medical College. He serves on a panel of examiners for post graduate students of the S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research.
Ghaswala can be contacted on +91 98208 63931 and percy@ghaswalafoundation.org.