Government of Maharashtra, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust Partner to Bring Quality Vision Care to 2 Million School Children
Mumbai : The School Education and Sports Department, Government of Maharashtra, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, and Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust today signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand access to quality vision care for children studying in government schools across Maharashtra. The partnership will support a large-scale School Eye Health Program Vision For All aimed at screening 2 million students in Standards 5 to 10 across Zilla Parishad and Government schools over a three-year period from August 2026 to June 2029
The MoU was signed at Sahyadri State Guest House, Mumbai, in the presence of Shri Dadaji Bhuse, Hon’ble Minister for School Education and Sports, Government of Maharashtra, senior government officials, Mr. Venu Ambati, President Greater India, EssilorLuxottica and Director, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, and Mr. Rajiv Mehta, Trustee, Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust.
Under the partnership, the Department of School Education and Sports will facilitate teacher training and coordinate school-based vision screening activities throughout the state. Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust will serve as the implementation partner, deploying qualified optometry teams to conduct refraction services and coordinate spectacle distribution. OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation will provide technical expertise and support the program with 100,000 free prescription spectacles for students identified with refractive errors.
The renewed collaboration builds on a successful partnership that has been improving children’s access to vision care since 2019. To date, the initiative has screened more than 680,000 children across 800 schools in 18 districts and provided over 63,000 spectacles, helping thousands of students overcome vision-related barriers to learning.
Addressing a Critical Barrier to Learning
Clear vision is fundamental to a child’s educational success, confidence, and overall development. Yet uncorrected refractive errors remain one of the most common causes of avoidable visual impairment among school-age children, often affecting academic performance and participation in the classroom.
By combining the reach of the government education system with the implementation expertise of RNCT and the vision care leadership of OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, the partnership aims to create a sustainable and scalable model for school eye health across Maharashtra.
Shri Dadaji Bhuse, Hon’ble Minister for School Education and Sports, Government of Maharashtra, said:
“Good vision is fundamental to a child’s learning and development. Through this partnership with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust, we are strengthening our efforts under Vision for All program to ensure that every child studying in government schools has access to timely vision screening and appropriate eye care services. By addressing vision problems early, we can help students perform better academically, improve their confidence, and create equal opportunities for them to succeed.”
Mr. Venu Ambati, President Greater India, EssilorLuxottica and Director, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, said:
“We are proud to strengthen our long-standing partnership with the Government of Maharashtra and Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust to expand access to quality vision care for children studying in government schools across the state. Good vision is essential for learning, confidence, and overall development. Through this renewed collaboration, we aim to ensure that children with vision problems are identified early and receive timely corrective solutions that enable them to achieve their full potential.”
Mr. Rajiv Mehta, Trustee, Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust, said:
“Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust is proud to continue its collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra and OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation to improve access to vision care for school children. Together, we are committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed with clear vision.”
