Patna: The Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammad Khan, on Thursday laid the foundation stone of an 800-bed girls’ hostel at the Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital in Mastichak, Bihar. The hostel, funded under State Bank of India’s (SBI) corporate social responsibility programme ‘Sashakti’, is designed to accommodate students enrolled in the hospital’s Football to Eyeball initiative—a unique education and empowerment scheme for rural girls.
The governor, speaking at a function held at the hospital’s Shriram Auditorium, lauded the efforts of Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital, noting the institution’s exceptional commitment to patient care despite being located in a remote area far from Patna. “I had never imagined such a well-equipped facility in a rural setting. Patients are being served with full dedication here,” Khan said.
He paid tribute to Acharya Shriram Sharma, calling his personality “inspiring” and recalling his blessings during his time as a Member of Parliament from Kanpur. The governor also spoke on broader themes, touching upon the Gayatri Mantra, the importance of women’s education for national progress, and the cultural heritage embedded in the Panchatantra, Hitopadesha, Swami Vivekananda, and Maharishi Patanjali.
Khan was welcomed by the hospital’s CEO Mrityunjay Tiwari and Managing Trustee Atul Kumar, who presented mementoes engraved with the Gayatri Mantra. He also visited the hospital’s 500-bed Centre of Excellence and offered floral tributes at a 50-foot statue of Acharya Shriram Sharma.
SBI’s Deputy Managing Director (HR) Kishore Kumar Poludasu and SBI Foundation Chairman Sanjay Prakash announced a Rs 15 crore grant under the ‘Sashakti’ scheme to support construction of the hostel. “This is a landmark partnership in women’s empowerment and rural development,” Poludasu said.
The Football to Eyeball programme, led by Manisha Dwivedi, is a free, residential, five-year education and training initiative for underprivileged rural girls, many of whom eventually join Akhand Jyoti as ophthalmic personnel. Currently, 700 girls are enrolled in the programme, with plans to expand the number to 1,500 over the next five years.
The hospital’s Clinical Advisory Board Chairman Dr Rajvardhan Azad and Medical Director Dr Ajit Poddar outlined the hospital’s progress and activities. A documentary tracing the journey of Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital was screened, and Rashmi Kumari presented a devotional performance as part of the cultural segment.
The event was attended by several SBI officials, district administration representatives including the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Saran, and members of the Akhand Jyoti team.
