THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
In the remote villages of Jharkhand, where hospitals are often far away and medical help scarce, thousands of people know one name with gratitude—Bharti Kashyap.
For more than three decades, the Ranchi-based eye specialist has been on a mission: to ensure that poverty or geography does not rob anyone of their eyesight or health. Through her initiatives, nearly 20 lakh (two million) poor children have received free eye treatment, and lakhs of women have gained access to life-saving cervical cancer screening.
But the story of Dr Bharti Kashyap is not just about medicine. It is about compassion, persistence and a family that turned healthcare into a lifelong mission.
A mission that began three decades ago
Dr Bharti Kashyap entered the medical profession over 32 years ago, choosing to specialise in ophthalmology at a time when specialised healthcare was still rare in Jharkhand.
Rather than limiting her practice to urban centres, she decided to reach the most neglected regions—tribal and rural areas where people often lived their entire lives without seeing a doctor.
Her journey has taken her across the state—from the dense forests of Saranda to the villages of Santhal Pargana, from the tribal belts of Kolhan to the remote settlements of Palamu division.
Many of these journeys were undertaken with limited resources. At times, she used her own funds to organise camps; at other times, government agencies and social organisations stepped in to support her work.
But the mission remained constant: to bring healthcare to the doorstep of those who needed it most.
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A family dedicated to healing
Behind Dr Bharti Kashyap’s remarkable journey stands the support of her husband, B P Kashyap, a respected ophthalmologist and a pioneer in eye care in the region.
Together, the couple helped establish modern eye-care services in Jharkhand at a time when the state had very limited specialised medical facilities. Their efforts led to the creation of institutions and outreach programmes that made advanced eye treatment accessible to thousands of patients.
Their son, Bibbhuti Kashyap, has also followed the same path, continuing the family’s medical legacy and contributing to eye-care initiatives in the state.
For the Kashyap family, medicine has become more than a profession—it is a shared commitment to public service.
Bringing light through eye donation
During her work in rural Jharkhand, Dr Kashyap encountered countless patients who had lost their vision due to corneal blindness.
Seeing their struggles inspired her to launch a mass awareness campaign on eye donation.
She travelled from village to village, speaking at community meetings, schools and public gatherings, explaining how a single act of eye donation could restore sight to another person.
Over time, the campaign grew into a movement. More people came forward to pledge their eyes, making corneal transplantation possible for thousands of visually impaired patients in Bihar and Jharkhand.
Her efforts played a major role in popularising eye donation in eastern India.
The Mobile Vision Centre: A lifeline for children
While working in villages, Dr Kashyap noticed another serious problem—thousands of children suffering from untreated eye conditions simply because their families could not afford treatment or travel to cities.
To address this, she introduced the Mobile Vision Centre model.
Under this initiative, teams of doctors and technicians travel to remote villages, conduct eye screening camps for children, and provide free treatment or referral for surgery if needed.
The results have been extraordinary.
So far, nearly 20 lakh poor children have received free eye examinations and treatment through this initiative, transforming it into one of the largest rural eye-care outreach programmes in the region.
For many families, it has meant the difference between a lifetime of impaired vision and a future filled with opportunity.
Fighting cervical cancer in rural India
Dr Bharti Kashyap’s work extends far beyond eye care.
Recognising the silent threat of cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of death among women in India, she launched a statewide awareness and screening programme in Jharkhand.
Under what has come to be known as the Jharkhand Model, health teams travel to villages to conduct screening and educate women about early detection.
So far, more than 5.4 lakh women have been screened, and those diagnosed with early-stage disease have received timely treatment.
For rural and tribal women—many of whom had never undergone a medical test before—the programme has brought both awareness and hope.
National recognition
Dr Kashyap’s work has received recognition across the country.
In 2017, she was honoured with the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India’s highest civilian award for women’s empowerment, presented by the President of India.
Earlier, in 2014, she was invited by Narendra Modi to participate in a special International Women’s Day interaction with inspiring women from across the country.
She has also received six major honours from the Indian Medical Association, including the Doctor of the Year Award, Med Achievers Award and National President’s Appreciation Award.
Lighting one life after another
Even today, Dr Bharti Kashyap continues to lead several public health initiatives in Jharkhand, including:
- Vision Protection Campaign
- Eye Donation Awareness Campaign
- Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme
- Jyot Se Jyot Jalao initiative
Across Jharkhand’s villages, thousands of children can now see clearly, women who received timely cancer screening, and families who found hope in moments of despair.
For them, Dr Bharti Kashyap is not just a doctor.
She is the woman who brought light into their lives.
