New Delhi : Sightsavers India, a development organisation working since 1966 to eliminate avoidable blindness and empower people with disabilities across the country, today unveiled ‘Looms & Lenses’, a new national initiative focused on improving access to eye care for weaving and artisan communities.
Through ‘Looms & Lenses’, Sightsavers India aims to bring eye care closer to where weavers and artisans live and work, while recognising the skills, stories and aspirations of these communities. The initiative aims to reach 1 million weavers, allied workers and artisans by 2030, and provide 400,000 spectacles to those in need.
The initiative was unveiled by Mr. Kabir Bedi, Honorary Brand Ambassador, Sightsavers India, at an event held at the India International Centre in New Delhi.
The event was graced by Mr Kabir Bedi, Chief Guest and Honorary Brand Ambassador, Sightsavers India; MsSwayamprava Pani, Additional Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, as Guest of Honour; Ms Poonam Guha, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, Government of Odisha; Mrs Sherry Singh, Mrs Universe 2025, Dr G. Kausalya, Deputy Director General, NPCB&VI, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Dr Tashi Tobgay, Regional Adviser, World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Office; Dr Caroline Harper, CBE, CEO, RCSB UK and Ms Rati Forbes, Chair, Sightsavers India;
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Kabir Bedi, Honorary Brand Ambassador, Sightsavers India, said, “Being made the Honorary Brand Ambassador of Sightsavers India is a deeply special honour because restoring sight is not just about treating a medical condition—it is about restoring lives, dignity and livelihoods. The Looms and Lenses initiative is particularly meaningful as it supports India’s weavers, whose craft depends on precision, vision and generations-old traditions. By helping them protect their eyesight, we are not only improving their lives but also helping preserve an invaluable part of India’s artistic heritage.”
Mr RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, said, “The Looms & Lenses programme will begin in Odisha, building on Sightsavers India’s partnership with the Department of Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, Government of Odisha, before expanding to other states. By bringing eye screenings, spectacles and referral services closer to weaving communities, the programme aims to address vision-related challenges that can affect their productivity, income and independence.
Ms Swayamprava Pani, ADC-Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles and Guest of Honour said, ““India’s handloom sector supports 3.5 million weavers, 72% of whom are women. Strengthening their welfare is essential to the sector’s growth and sustainability. I commend Sightsavers India for recognising the importance of eye health in improving productivity, securing livelihoods and ensuring the well-being of our weaving communities.”
Ms.Poonam Guha, Commissioner-cum-Secretary said, “Eye care is as fundamental to human welfare as any other basic need. Our partnership with Sightsavers India has helped us take this support directly to weavers and artisans through eye-care camps in Cuttack and Bargarh, reaching around 1,000 people. Given the positive response, we are now working towards a structured plan to cover the entire weaver community.”
Mrs. Sherriy Singh , Mrs Universe 2025, said, “By protecting the eyesight and livelihoods of artisans, we are not just saving a craft; we are preserving a part of our cultural heritage. As a woman, I have grown up seeing my mother preserve this art, and I believe we have a responsibility to ensure that these traditions do not disappear. My heart is full knowing that initiatives like Sightsavers India are working to protect both the people and the traditions behind this beautiful craft.”said,
The launch also saw Mr Kabir Bedi unveil the programme’s new visual identity, followed by the screening of a special film featuring him, highlighting the connection between eye health, livelihoods and India’s weaving heritage. The event also marked the launch of Sightsavers India’s report, Beyond the Thread.
For millions of weavers across India, clear eyesight is essential to earning a livelihood and continuing a craft passed down through generations. Through Looms & Lenses, Sightsavers India seeks to ensure that preventable vision problems do not become a reason for weavers to lose their livelihoods or give up their craft. The initiative reinforces a simple but important message: protecting a weaver’s sight also means protecting their livelihood and the future of India’s living heritage.