In Mahadevpura village, located within the Kotkhawada tehsil of Jaipur district, a remarkable story of selfless community service has been unfolding for a quarter of a century. Shiv Shankar Prajapati has spent the last 25 years working tirelessly to restore the eyesight of impoverished and underprivileged villagers who cannot afford medical care. Recognizing that financial hardship frequently prevents people from receiving cataract treatments, he has consistently arranged free eye medical camps. Through his sustained dedication, thousands of patients have received specialized eye care, and more than 1,000 individuals have successfully undergone cataract surgeries completely free of charge.
A Healthcare Journey Spanning Since 2001
Prajapati initiated his humanitarian work in 2001, initially carrying out medical outreach under the Panchayati Raj Jan Chetna Sansthan between 2001 and 2010. Beginning in 2011, he transitioned this initiative under the banner of Kamdhenu Gaushala Mahadevpura. Under this organization, he organizes an average of four free eye treatment camps every single year. This consistent effort has provided dependable, high-quality medical access to rural families who would otherwise have no way to access modern ophthalmic procedures.
Partnership With Kelgiri Eye Hospital Offers End-to-End Care
Prajapati observed that for rural patients, poverty is only part of the problem. A second major barrier is the scarcity of family members available to accompany patients to distant urban facilities and stay with them throughout their recovery. To address both obstacles simultaneously, he collaborates with Kelgiri Eye Hospital in Jaipur to ensure that every stage of care is fully managed without placing any burden on the patients or their relatives.
Through these organized camps, patients receive complimentary ambulance transportation, comprehensive vision examinations, surgical procedures, lens implants, prescription medications, and spectacles. Furthermore, hospital lodging, nutritious daily meals, and tea and snacks during the admission period are provided entirely free of cost. Patients are never asked to pay any fees whatsoever at any point during their diagnosis or treatment.
Acting as a Dedicated Family Attendant Throughout the Hospital Stay
Prajapati does not simply drop patients off at the hospital doors and return home. He personally stays with them throughout their medical journey, remaining by their side from the moment they are admitted until they are discharged and escorted back to the Gaushala approximately four days later. He attends to their daily needs and provides comfort just as a devoted family member would. Because of this personal commitment, rural families place complete trust in him, entrusting their elderly relatives to his care without hesitation.
Restoring Sight and Independence to Rural Elders
Severe visual impairment often robs elderly villagers of basic autonomy and dignity. One elderly patient who benefited from the initiative recounted that due to failing eyesight, routine daily tasks had become nearly impossible, remembering a painful incident where poor vision caused him to unknowingly eat from the same plate as a dog. After the corrective surgery restored his clear vision, he was able to handle most of his daily routines independently once again. In rural regions, the prohibitive price of intraocular lens implants alongside commuting expenses frequently leads vulnerable seniors to suffer in silence. Understanding this ground reality, Shiv Shankar Prajapati has dedicated 25 years of his life to dispelling that darkness, offering both physical sight and profound humanitarian inspiration.
