In many parts of the world, eye care begins with women. Through the Aadya initiative, teams in India are trained to serve as frontline screeners for corneal infections, bringing sight-saving care directly into communities that need it most.
But delivering care is only part of the story. To truly empower women in eye health, we must also protect their right to work in safe, respectful environments.
Expanding the Aadya Program
The Aadya program, originally founded by Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH) and Combat Blindness International (CBI), continues to grow with support from new partners who are expanding its impact. In Vrindavan and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, a largely rural northern state, KeraLink International is sponsoring 100 Aadya screeners and providing enhanced corneal health training. The program also invests in workforce development through soft skills and Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) training.
Why POSH Training Matters
While India’s 2013 POSH Act requires workplaces to implement safeguards against sexual harassment, this training goes well beyond the minimum legal standards. As the first POSH training of its kind within the Aadya program, it marks an important step toward protecting and empowering women in eye health. For Aadya screeners, many of whom work in community-based, male-dominated environments, this initiative offers essential tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to harassment while fostering a culture of dignity, respect, and accountability.
Training Led by Experts
With KeraLink’s sponsorship, Aadya screeners participated in POSH training sessions led by two of India’s foremost legal experts:
- Advocate Gurpreet Kaur, a Delhi High Court Advocate and certified POSH consultant with nearly a decade of experience helping organizations build inclusive, legally compliant workplaces. She specializes in capacity-building for HR teams, leadership, and Internal Committee members, and guided Aadya participants through the core elements of the POSH Act and their rights under it.
- Advocate Bhumika Bubbar, a senior POSH advisor at Lawgical Associates with experience in more than 300 litigation cases and over 100 trainings conducted nationwide. Bhumika’s expertise in policy development, complaint handling, and legal investigations helped Aadya workers gain confidence in identifying harassment, understanding reporting pathways, and cultivating a culture of safety and accountability.
Looking Ahead
With targeted support from KeraLink, the Aadya program continues to evolve, uplifting women not only as health screeners but also as leaders in their communities.
Because in every workplace, sight and safety must go hand in hand.