The National Society for the Prevention of Blindness-India was formed on the basis of resolution of the National Association for the Blind in 1959. Late Dr.Mohan Lal who is still remembered as an eminent social worker and eye specialist was entrusted with the task of forming the Society and he along with his colleagues framed its first Constitution of the Society. The Society was registered on 24th August, 1960 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, the then Health Minister, Government of India was elected as its first President. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was its Chief Patron in 1962.
The Society immediately went into action and started negotiating with the Govt.of India, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the USAID authorities for launching a collaborative research project with the allocation of PL 480 funds. In 1965 Smt. Sushila Nayar the then Union Health Minister became its President and Prof. L.P.Agarwal took over as the Honorary Secretary.
Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur was followed by Dr. Sushila Nayar, Union Health Minister, as the next President. She was succeeded by Prof. Madan Mohan, who was succeeded by Prof. S.R.K. Malik. In 1992 Dr. S.R.K. Malik was succeeded by Dr. D.K. Modi. Since 2002 Dr. B.S. Sharma is the Society’s Executive President.
NSPB-I has since then been the only voluntary organization working for the cause of prevention of blindness at the national level and also in various parts of the country through its State and District branches and two eye hospitals at Moti Nagar, New Delhi and {Raison, Kullu (H.P)
- Take measures and engage in community service activities which shall lead to the control and elimination of the causes of blindness.
- Disseminate knowledge concerning all matters pertaining to the care of eyes.
- Publish studies, periodicals, reports and other literature relating to the prevention of blindness.
- Endeavour through research and investigations to ascertain causes, direct or indirect, which may result in blindness or impaired vision.
- Continuously conduct experiments and research in making and fitting of glasses, contact lenses, low vision aids and other optical devices for the prevention of impairment and/or for the improvement of sight.
- Take such actions as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objectives of the Society, including collection of funds, receiving grants, acquiring property- movable or immovable.