For a short while sighted people in Bangalore were asked to tie blindfolds and walk with the help of a visually impaired guide.
India's eye donation fortnight ends on Monday, and in a bid to raise awareness about it, a series of 'Blind Walks' was organized in Bangalore during which sighted people could briefly experience what it is not to be able to see.
For a short while sighted people were asked to tie blindfolds and walk with the help of a visually impaired guide.
Though blindfolds can be removed anytime, the struggle is for those leading them. And for them, eye donation can be a life-changer.
One young man, Pundalika told us why he thought the walks might be effective. "This walk is to create awareness about eye donation. Normal people walk blindfolded so that they can experience what we routinely face. After experiencing this they will easily turn up to donate eyes," he said.
Another visually impaired participant, Arvind, added, "By birth we are blind so we are used to this. Sighted person does not know what it is to be blind. If he has awareness about this he may donate."
NDTV also spoke to two young girls who could see and asked them why they had chosen to participate. One of them said, "We privileged ones should know what it is like...We can give something to society by pledging our eyes."
Her friend added, "To know what it is like to lose our sight even for an hour. We can pledge our eyes so people can see this beautiful world after we are gone."
Millions of Indians could see again if they received a cornea. Dr Bhujang Shetty, Founder-Director at Narayana Nethralaya told NDTV, "India has maximum number of blind in the world - 80 per cent of this is curable. Corneal blindness is one form that is curable. But somebody needs to donate. There is no artificial cornea. Only if someone donates can they help. There are three million people with corneal blindness."
"It is very sad that in Karnataka last year, 420 000 people died but only 3,500 donated their eyes," said Father George Kannanthanam, Director at Project Vision and the man behind the Blind Walks. He says he is hopeful that eye donation numbers will increase.