Odisha state government on 14 March passed a scheme granting universal access to eyecare services in the state and affordable eye care services in rural and tribal areas.

The Odisha Cabinet on 14 March approved a scheme to provide universal access to comprehensive eyecare services from primary to tertiary levels in the state. The Cabinet approved the Universal Eye Health Programme on affordable eyecare in services in rural and tribal areas by making available skilled manpower and equipment.

It also aims to generate a baseline data on the prevalence of eye diseases in the state through a sample survey. All backlog cataract cases will be addressed by 2023. The scheme will also have provision for adequate eyecare infrastructure in medical colleges, district and sub-divisional hospitals, and community health centres.

The programme will be implemented from 2018-19 to 2022-23. The Cabinet also approved universal coverage of water supply in urban areas by 2018-19. The Housing and Urban Development Department has prepared an action plan for urban water supply to achieve the universal coverage of all wards of 114 Urban Local Bodies by the end of 2018-19, an official statement said.

The water supply programme will be implemented by leveraging funds from the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, District Mineral Fund, grants from the 4th State Finance Commission and Urban Water Supply Programme under state. The Cabinet also approved a sub-scheme Biju Yuva Vahini under Biju Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana to reach out to youths at the grass-roots level and goad them for youth-led social action and community engagement activities.