A Partnership with 2.5 New Vision Generation (Essilor)

In rural India, where access to basic eye care remains a significant challenge, 2.5 New Vision Generation (NVG), a subsidiary of Essilor, envisioned a unique solution. Their Eye Mitra program aimed to create a network of rural opticians who could bring affordable eye care directly to underserved communities. While the technical training program was sound, something wasn’t quite clicking.

The initial approach focused solely on developing technical expertise. Rural individuals were meticulously trained in basic ophthalmology – conducting eye tests, determining prescription powers, and fitting glasses. They became skilled practitioners, yet the program’s impact remained limited. The missing piece of the puzzle soon became clear: these technically proficient Eye Mitras lacked the fundamental skills to turn their expertise into sustainable businesses.

This realization led to a pivotal transformation of the program. We developed a comprehensive entrepreneurship curriculum that seamlessly integrated with the existing technical training. The new approach taught participants how to test eyes and prescribe glasses – and also how to build and run successful optical businesses in their communities.

The results were remarkable. In the first year alone, we trained 200 Eye Mitras across 40 locations. These rural entrepreneurs saw their sales increase by 2.5 times. This success proved that the combination of technical skills and business acumen was the key to creating sustainable rural eye care enterprises.

The impact was so compelling that Essilor decided to scale the program. We guided them through training 800 Eye Mitras across India, and the success continued – participants experienced a threefold increase in sales. The model proved so effective that it was adopted across the entire 2.5 NVG group throughout South Asia.

Today, the program’s legacy extends far beyond its initial scope. More than 10,000 Eye Mitras have been trained across India, creating a robust network of rural eye care entrepreneurs. The program has not only addressed the critical need for accessible eye care in rural areas but has also created sustainable livelihoods for thousands of rural entrepreneurs.

The Eye Mitra story demonstrates how combining technical skills with business acumen can transform a social initiative into a sustainable enterprise model.