A Birmingham community group, the Shree Prajapati Association(SPA), has raised nearly £6,000 to help bring sight to villagers in remote parts of India through the Rotary Eye Institute (REI) in Navsari, India. The REI runs a sterilised mobile operating theatre, which sets up temporary eye camps in isolated and sometimes inaccessible villages in the Gujarat state of India to screen people for signs of mature cataracts and provide treatment that they would otherwise not afford.

Birmingham SPA, held a Dinner and Dance that raised over £4000, a ladies night and received donations from generous members. The Association, one of 13 regional organisations and part of a national charity - Shree Prajapati Association UK - to date has helped raise over £25,000 to purchase the mobile unit and all the operating equipment. It also sent representatives to India to help establish the unit.

Kiran D. Mistry, president of Birmingham Shree Prajapati Association said: "When we first heard about the Rotary Eye Institute, we felt compelled to support it and over the last few months our members have dug deep into their pockets to demonstrate great imagination and generosity to raise funds for the project. It's incredible to see the hardship that villagers in parts of India face, especially for those living in cold, remote and inaccessible villages. And with no NHS to fall back on people remain blind but for many a simple cataract operation costing around £70 would restore vision, hope and more importantly a livelihood."

ABOUT THE SHREE PRAJAPATI ASSOCIATION BIRMINGHAM

Shree Prajapati Association Birmingham (Registered Charity No.1034580) is part of a national charity organisation - Shree Prajapati Association UK. Through its network of 13 branches the SPA aims to advance religion and education, particularly in Hindu culture, and the relief of poverty and sickness among the Hindu Community.

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