Government of Himachal Pradesh, redBus and VisionSpring Launch Eye Care Initiative for Himalayan Communities

The Government of Himachal Pradesh, in collaboration with redBus, the online bus ticketing platform, and VisionSpring Foundation, has launched an initiative to extend vision care services to underserved communities across the Himalayas. The project aims to reach 5,000 people through eye screenings, eyeglass distribution, referrals, and awareness activities in Himachal Pradesh.

From October 9 to18, 2025, a team from VisionSpring Foundation, along with government officials, eye health experts, and school children from around the world, will participate in the Clear Vision Trek – Himalayas (Rupin Pass 2025). The trek will cover areas in Shimla and Kinnaur districts, including Rohru, Jiskun, Jakha, Rupin Pass, Reckong Peo, Sangla, and Chitkul, the first village of India. Eye screenings will also be held for drivers on high-risk roads, especially near Reckong Peo. The objective is to take vision care to remote regions and raise awareness about the importance of clear eyesight in improving quality of life. The intervention has already begun and will continue after the trek’s completion.

Through this programme, VisionSpring Foundation will provide eyeglasses under three focus areas: See to Earn, supporting working-age adults to improve productivity and income; See to Learn, helping students achieve better academic results; and See to be Safe, assisting drivers and transport workers in enhancing road safety.

Dr. Jordan Kassalow, Founder of VisionSpring Foundation, said, “For more than two decades, VisionSpring’s mission has been driven by a simple belief: everyone has the right to see clearly, no matter where they live. The Clear Vision Trek will bring life-changing eyeglasses across some of the most challenging terrain on earth to reach people who need it the most.”

The Clear Vision Trek – Himalayas (Rupin Pass 2025) was launched in Shimla by Mr Sanjay Guppta, Chief Secretary, Government of Himachal Pradesh, as part of the state’s World Sight Day 2025 celebration. The event brought together ministers, senior officials, corporates, NGOs, medical experts, and representatives from partner organisations, including the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), World Health Organization (WHO), and Indiahikes.