Project Abhay: Vision care initiative targets road safety crisis

A nationwide initiative has screened 50,000 truck drivers across six Indian states, revealing that over half suffer from vision problems that could impact road safety. The Project Abhay findings, presented at IIT Delhi on January 29, show that 55.1% of drivers require vision correction, with 93.7% receiving immediate assistance through on-site health camps.

The initiative, led by IIT Delhi's Centre for Rural Development & Technology in partnership with Foresight Foundation and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, uncovered significant health challenges among India's commercial drivers. Beyond vision issues, 57.4% of drivers showed elevated blood pressure, and 44.3% had high or borderline BMI levels.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted the project's broader implications for India's logistics sector, noting that the country faces a significant driver shortage with only 75 drivers available for every 100 trucks. The minister emphasized that addressing driver welfare is crucial for reducing India's annual traffic fatalities, which currently stand at 180,000 deaths from 500,000 accidents.

The program has also improved social security coverage among drivers, increasing from 51.5% to 86.16%. This extension of benefits impacts over 62,700 family members, with a cumulative value of ₹502 crore.
Launched in March 2024, Project Abhay operates across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The initiative utilizes a dedicated app for real-time data collection and camp operations management, enabling immediate interventions when health issues are identified.

The findings suggest that improving driver health and working conditions could help address India's broader transportation challenges, including high logistics costs that currently range between 14-16% of operational expenses.