An Exclusive Interview with RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, a leading organisation working to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote disability inclusion across the country
In this exclusive interview, RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, shares insights into the organisation’s mission to eliminate avoidable blindness and champion disability inclusion.
With decades of impact across communities, he highlights challenges, progress, and the vision for a more equitable India.
Could you share your professional journey and what led you to take on the role of CEO at Sightsavers India?
RN Mohanty: I have spent over three decades in the development sector, and my journey has taken me through a wide spectrum of social causes. I began with relief and rehabilitation programmes, working closely with communities in times of crisis, which gave me a strong grounding in how interconnected social and economic challenges really are.
Over time, my work expanded into health, education, and livelihoods, with a growing focus on disability and inclusion.
At Sightsavers India, I found an organisation that not only addresses immediate needs but also works to strengthen systems and create sustainable change.
Taking on the role of CEO felt like a natural progression of my journey; an opportunity to bring together my experience in programme strategy, partnerships, and institution building to scale impact across the country.
For me, it has been both a responsibility and a privilege to lead this work, knowing that each initiative contributes to a larger vision of inclusion and equity.
How does India’s context—diverse, large, and resource-constrained—shape your strategy for eye health and disability programs?
RN Mohanty: India’s scale and diversity mean that a one-size-fits-all approach will simply not work. Our strategy is rooted in localisation; working district by district, tailoring programmes to community needs while aligning with national priorities.
Resource constraints also push us to be innovative, ensuring that every rupee goes further through partnerships, technology, and sustainable models.
What are the biggest challenges you face in addressing preventable blindness and disability inclusion in India?
RN Mohanty: Awareness and access remain our biggest challenges. Many people delay seeking treatment due to a lack of knowledge, stigma, or distance from services.
On disability inclusion, societal attitudes are as much of a barrier as infrastructure. Changing mindsets while strengthening systems is a dual challenge we work on every day.
What have been some of the most impactful initiatives or programs Sightsavers India has undertaken under your leadership?
RN Mohanty: I would highlight our district-focused model of eye health, which allows us to scale systematically while building sustainability.
One of the major changes we brought about in our approach to addressing eye care, education and inclusion programmes was to make a conscious shift from a narrow-focused geography to a district-based approach for clear impact assessment.
The Inclusive Education programme, now aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, combines system-level and child-centric approaches. It expands into secondary education, improves teacher training, integrates ICT tools, and includes early childhood and gender-focused interventions.
A robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) framework ensures the use of individual-level, disaggregated data, GIS tracking, and outcome-based indicators—strengthening programme quality and accountability.
Today, we are present in 94 districts and 17 cities across India, bringing quality eye health closer to communities. Since 1970, more than 102 million eye screenings have helped detect and address eye health issues early and effectively.
How do partnerships with governments, NGOs, and corporates strengthen your mission?
RN Mohanty: Collaborations are at the heart of Sightsavers India’s eye health programmes. We work closely with state governments through formal MoUs, aligning with public health priorities and integrating services into existing systems such as PHCs, UPHCs, and schools.
In urban areas, our Vision Centres are embedded within UPHCs to improve accessibility and strengthen the continuum of care from primary to tertiary levels.
Corporate partners, through CSR, provide vital financial and technical support that allows us to scale programmes, test new models, and adopt innovative practices.
Equally important are our local NGO and hospital partners, who bring community trust and cultural understanding, supporting outreach, screenings, surgeries, and follow-ups. Together, these partnerships ensure last-mile delivery and long-term sustainability of our work.
How is technology being used at Sightsavers India to improve reach and efficiency in eye-care services?
RN Mohanty: At Sightsavers India, technology plays a key role in advancing eye health and inclusive education. Our RAAHI App enables us to reach truckers on the move with seamless eye care through OTP-based registration, GIS mapping, automated spectacle ordering, and WhatsApp integration.
Meanwhile, the STAR App helps track the progress of children with visual impairment in inclusive classrooms, giving teachers real-time data to plan personalised interventions. Together, these tools make our programmes more efficient, inclusive, and impactful.
What has been the most rewarding experience of your journey at Sightsavers India so far?
RN Mohanty: For me, it’s always the human stories. Meeting a child who can read again because of a pair of spectacles, or a young adult with disability who finds meaningful employment, that’s what makes this work deeply rewarding.
I’ll never forget meeting an elderly person who, after a cataract surgery supported through our programme, could see clearly again and said it felt like getting a new life. The systemic numbers matter, but the individual lives changed are what stay with you.
What advice would you give to young professionals who want to make a career in the social impact sector?
RN Mohanty: My advice would be, come with passion, but also with patience. Passion for social change is essential, but it needs to be backed by professionalism, discipline, and the ability to work with diverse stakeholders. This sector is not about quick wins; it’s about persistence, patience, and learning from the communities you serve.
If you see challenges as opportunities to innovate, and if you value collaboration over competition, the social sector can be one of the most fulfilling career paths. It allows you to not only make a difference in society but also grow as a person.
Mohanty’s words remind us that true progress lies in accessibility, empowerment, and collective responsibility.
RN Mohanty’s insights underline that eliminating avoidable blindness and creating an inclusive society is not just a health agenda but a human rights commitment.
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