JAMMU, MAY 28: After the lapse of more than 15 years since the enactment of Jammu and Kashmir Transplantation of Human Organs Act, Jammu and Kashmir continue to lack the facility of an eye-bank, shattering the hopes of physically challenged populace of state to see the world.
 Official sources claimed that despite large number of number of physically impaired people, the state government has not been able to fulfill the obligations under the Jammu and Kashmir Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1997, which provides mechanism for the transplantation of human organs and their preservation in a proper and effective ways.
  “There is a statutory obligation on the state or appropriate authority within the meaning of section 13 of this Act to establish the required numbers of eye banks with all the requisite modern facilities, but state government has so far failed to do so, even after more than 15 years Act”, sources maintained.
 They further said that Jammu and Kashmir has around 1.6 Lakh corneal blind people, out of 15 millions blind people registered in entire country. “The corneal blind people can get sight only after corneal eye transplantation and an eye bank is an organization recognized by the government to collect, store and distribute human eye to those requiring corneal transplantation.” they said, adding that most of the other states across India have eye bank facilities, but J&K government has so far failed to do so.
 The nearest eye bank facility, a doctor said, is available for J&K residents at PGI Chandigarh, which too is of no avail to the people of state, “According to the medical science and standards of eye banking, cornea/eye should be removed as soon as possible after death and, in any event, within six hours of the demise of the donor”, the doctor, preferring not to be named said. He added that the outstation eye banks would not serve the purpose of any prospective donor residing in the state.
 The non-availability of the eye bank facility has been denying even the prospective donor of the opportunity to donate his eyes, and a blind man to see the world and live a dignified and a happy life.
 A social activist and lawyer Rinku Sharma had recently filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in State High Court seeking direction to the state government to establish the banks.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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