A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on August 26, 2007 by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu with Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) for providing grant assistance of NRs.36.13 million to NNJS for conducting 15,000 cataract and 1,200 Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT) surgeries during the year 2008-09 through eye hospitals and eye-care centres of NNJS in various districts of Nepal as a ‘National Eye Sight Programme’.

Blindness due to cataract and trachoma is a major health problem in Nepal, causing about 8.25 lakh people to suffer from some degree of visual impairment.

NNJS is an apex voluntary organization, recognized by Government of Nepal as a National Society for Comprehensive Eye Care having 12 eye hospitals, 42 eye care centres, 250 community based organisations, 5,000 local volunteers and 400 eye surgery camps under its umbrella across various districts of Nepal. Since 2001, Government of India has been providing assistance to NNJS for eye care programme in Nepal through country-wide free of cost eye-camps organized as part of the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme. Under the programme over 59,000 people have so far been cured of cataract and trachoma with total Indian assistance of NRs.125 million. Government of India is also providing assistance to NNJS for the School Eye Health Care Programme in Nepal under which NNJS holds nation-wide mobile eye screening camps in various schools and distributes free of cost, about 9,000 spectacles and about 300 low vision devices to students every year.

Under the MOU, Government of India will provide fresh assistance of NRs.36.13 million to NNJS to cover full cost of conducting 15,000 cataract surgeries and 1,200 TT surgeries through its diagnostic and surgical camps during the year 2008-09.

India's assistance to NNJS is part of more than 290 large and small development projects currently being implemented under India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme in the sectors of education, health, community development and infrastructure covering all districts of Nepal with an outlay of over NRs.23 billions.