New York: New York-based philanthropist couple Haridas and Sharda Kotahwala sponsored the 12th Eye Camp organized by Varinder Bhalla in Amritsar, to provide the gift of vision with free eye exams and eyeglasses to visually impaired individuals who could not afford them, including elderly individuals struggling with their daily chores and children unable to see the blackboards clearly in classrooms, impacting their studies.
Varinder Bhalla, the former commissioner of Nassau County, New York, a native of Amritsar, launched the first eye camp in January 2023 to honor the legacy of his late father, a staunch supporter of the visually impaired children at a local institute for the blind. The inaugural camp was attended by notable figures of Punjab, including Gurjeet Singh Aujla, a Member of India’s Parliament; Om Parkash Soni, former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab; and Sandeep Rishi, the then-Commissioner of Amritsar.
Since its inception, 12 camps have been organized in Amritsar, with nearly 1,200 individuals benefiting from the program. Eye camps are organized monthly, except during extreme weather conditions that make it logistically challenging and prohibitive.
The Kotahwalas, known for their philanthropic contributions in both New York and India, have received numerous awards and accolades for their charitable endeavors.
