Chennai, 12.10.2023 – Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Limited (Chola), the financial services arm of Murugappa Group, is delighted to announce the expansion of its Raahi National Truckers Eye Health Programme, now entering phase eight. In this phase, Chola is set to establish two new vision centres while continuing to support the 36 locations in 16 states initiated in the previous year.
The Raahi National Truckers Eye Health Programme is a remarkable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by Chola aimed at promoting and providing essential health benefits to truck drivers and their families. The program’s primary objectives are to screen 1 lakh plus truck drivers and organize outreach camps in proximity to industrial areas, fleets, and transport depots.
Chola’s commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of the trucking community has been unwavering, and the new phase of the program will focus on eye health. Services to be offered include screening, spectacle dispensing, referral, refraction, and raising awareness about the significance of maintaining good eye health among truck drivers and their families.
Mr. Ravindra Kundu, Executive Director of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited, emphasized the importance of this initiative, saying, “Truck drivers play an indispensable role in our economy by transporting goods and across long distances, but they also bear the responsibility of ensuring the safety of their cargo and fellow road users. A crucial requirement for safe driving is clear vision. Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure better vision care for the truck drivers. Chola is proud to deliver and promote eye health services to the occupational driving community in our different locations, thereby providing improved healthcare facilities. For the financial year 2023-24, our goal is to screen over 1.5 lakh individuals, distribute sixty thousand spectacles, and conduct DR Screenings (Diabetic Retinopathy) for approximately 1000 plus truck drivers.”
As part of this program, Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Screening will also be conducted to detect and identify ocular conditions at an early stage. Fundus cameras, offering crucial eye screening services, will be installed in two mobile vans stationed in Durg, Chhattisgarh and Delhi.
Each truck driver participating in this program will receive a personalized referral card, facilitating a systematic approach to referrals, tracking, and follow-up for any identified beneficiary. This card can be presented at a nearby hospital for necessary cataract surgery.
Furthermore, the program will also address the critical health issue of Tuberculosis (TB) among truck drivers by organizing targeted awareness sessions. These sessions will educate truck drivers about TB,
its symptoms, transmission, prevention, and available healthcare services to ensure early detection and timely treatment.
Chola’s expanded Raahi National Truckers Eye Health Programme underscores its commitment to the well-being of the trucking community and reaffirms its role as a responsible corporate citizen.
