Deesha Education Foundation

Deesha Education Foundation, formally known as DEESHA Group, works towards making accessible, affordable, quality and sustainable healthcare and education. Initially, Swapnil started with the mission of eliminating of corneal blindness through eye donation awareness across the Maharashtra State. Deesha facilitates eye donation process in association with various eye banks and through great volunteer support, thus making eye donation a family tradition. Deesha is also establishing eye banks, eye collection centres, and eye transplantation centres where eye donation facility is not available.

Deesha Training and Consulting Pvt. Ltd

The private limited company is started with the motto of providing training and consulting in the field of engineering, management, legal, medical etc. The company started consulting in various streams of management like hospital administration, operations, marketing, information management etc and also in the domain of engineering including mechanical, refrigeration, production etc.

Eye Bank Association of India

EBAI is a not for profit society. The policies of the organisation are framed by an Executive Committee, which comprises Ophthalmologists and Eye Bankers. EBAI acts as a resource centre for all eye banks and organisations involved in eye donation movement. The main objectives of EBAI are to increase collection of eyes, introduce uniform standards in eye banks all over the country and to educate public about eye donation and prevention of corneal blindness. Over the past few years EBAI has been receiving support from all quarters.

Deesha Netralaya & Research Institute

The charitable eye hospital and research institute is underway under the aegis of Deesha Education Foundation. The mission is to eradicate curable blindness while promoting research in eye care, particularly in eye banking and cornea transplantation. Research collaboration with the institutes like the Eye Bank Association of America, European Eye Bank Association, Global Alliance of Eye Banking Association, Singapore National Eye Centre, Aravind Eye Care Systems, Wills Eye Hospital etc.

COVID Testing Labs (Unique PPP Model – Free Testing to people):

During the pandemic, Swapnil swiftly identified the urgent need to increase testing capacity and mobilised resources within 10 days of the lockdown. He proposed a network of free COVID testing labs to the Health Minister and ICMR, targeting seven critical districts in Maharashtra. Despite political and administrative hurdles, Swapnil established the first PPP-model lab in Khamgaon, Buldhana, within 40 days. By June 2020, he expanded labs to Thane, Panvel, Nerul, and Washim. From June to October 2020, the Khamgaon lab conducted 5,290 free tests, saving citizens approximately INR 1,58,70,000. Swapnil now mentors similar initiatives across multiple Indian states.

Mobile Eye Care Units:

While working on eye donation initiatives across the country, Swapnil realised that eye care facilities were lacking in small towns, remote, tribal, and rural areas. Many school children suffered from eye problems, particularly refractive errors, leading to poor academic performance and high dropout rates. To address this, Swapnil, through Deesha Education Foundation, launched mobile eye care units, fully equipped clinics on wheels that visit these underserved areas and provide affordable eye care. These units conduct school screening camps, significantly improving students’ academic performance and reducing dropout rates. This initiative also reduces the dependency of the elderly on family members by providing accessible eye care at their doorstep. Special emphasis is placed on encouraging women to undergo eye check-ups. In 2019, this model benefited 14,200 people, also facilitating necessary ophthalmic surgeries at base hospitals. By making eye care accessible, affordable, and sustainable, Deesha Education Foundation significantly contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Deesha Eye Banks:

Initially focusing on eye care in 2005, Swapnil recognised the broader need for accessible, affordable, quality, and sustainable healthcare. Corneal blindness, a major cause of blindness in developing countries, prompted him to address the neglected eye banking sector in India. At 18, Swapnil established Deesha Eye Banks, creating a network across various cities to streamline the eye donation process. By 2019, he facilitated over 10,908 eye donations in collaboration with various eye banks, restoring vision to many corneal blind individuals. Deesha Eye Banks operate in four districts and are expanding to six more in Maharashtra. Additionally, Swapnil started an eye transplantation centre benefiting five districts in the Amravati Division, significantly increasing eye donations. Deesha Eye Banks alone have secured over 2,700 eye donations, showcasing Swapnil’s impactful contribution to combating corneal blindness and improving healthcare accessibility.

Capacity Building for Non-profits:

Swapnil is dedicated to strengthening the non-profit sector. He initiated management development programs to empower leaders and changemakers within this field. Co-founding the NGO Federation of Maharashtra, a think tank for the social sector, Swapnil has significantly impacted the community. Renowned figures like Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Nileema Mishra, Paani Foundation Advisor Dr. Avinash Pol, Prayas Director Dr. Avinash Saoji, and Deepstambh Foundation Director Mr. Yajurvendra Mahajan, along with over 200 other leaders and changemakers, have joined Swapnil in his mission to build the capacity of NGOs and drive social change.

Deesha Netralaya & Research Institute:

Under the aegis of Deesha Education Foundation, Swapnil established a charitable eye hospital and research institute with the mission to eradicate curable blindness and advance eye care research, particularly in eye banking and cornea transplantation. Deesha Netralaya’s OPD began operations in 2020. Swapnil is dedicated to enhancing tissue utilisation rates across India by incorporating global best practices in eye banking. He has signed research collaborations with institutions such as the Singapore National Eye Centre to elevate research standards and skill human resources, thereby significantly contributing to the improvement of eye care.

Policy Level Changes:

• Cornea Distribution System
  Swapnil proposed an Online Eye Banking System to the Government of Maharashtra to eliminate data redundancy and enhance efficiency in eye donation. The system, now implemented, optimises the supply-demand balance and influences national policy.
• Centralised Helpline Number:
  A centralised online system tracks eye donations nationwide. Launched by Maharashtra’s Chief Minister and the Minister of Rural Development and Women and Child Welfare, this virtual number connects all eye banks, streamlining the donation process and improving accessibility.

Eye & Organ Donation Awareness

• Amravati is creating a bench mark for organ donation in Central India. Continuous awareness and training programmes have increased organ donation pledges. Life-saving transplants (kidneys, heart valves, skin, liver) have given new lease of life to 27 people within a year.
• Conducted eye donation awareness campaigns in over 900 schools and colleges, engaging young audiences through presentations, talks, competitions, debates, and dramas. These initiatives encourage discussions among students and their families, promoting awareness.
• Distributed over 1 million eye donation brochures and pledge forms through 950+ programmes.
• Conducting awareness sessions in hospitals for the staff and ICU unit heads. More than 891 hospitals are covered in the network.
• Conducting awareness in government offices so that they can understand the importance of the organ donation.

Rotary Humanity Hero Award in Healthcare | Rotary International

(High award given to non-Rotary Member)

The Rotary International completed 100 years in India and to mark the journey the Centennial Ceremony Award was organised in Biswas Bangla Convention Centre Kolkata which was attended by around 5000 rotary members across 40 countries. The four unsung heroes (non-Rotary members) were identified in Education Economic Development, Health, Literacy and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene.

The award was given in healthcare by the hands of Hon. Governor of West Bengal, Finance Minister of West Bengal and President of Rotary International

Recognition by various eminent personalities including Shri Nitin Gadkari (Union Cabinet Minister), Padma Bhushan Shri Badrinath Barwale (Founder Mahyco Seeds Co and Shri Ganapati Netralaya Jalna).

Received Letter of appreciation from

• Anandrao Adsul, former MP, Lok Sabha
• Amitesh Kumar, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Amravati
• Kiran Gitte, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate, Amravati
• Padma Vibhushan Dr. K. H. Sancheti (Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon)
• Prime  Minister   Awardee ,IAS  Shri  Kiran    Gitte , CEO,    Pune Metropolitan  Region Development Authority, PMRDA
• Shri Amitesh Kumar (Chief, ATS, Mumbai)
• Dr. Avinash Saoji (Director, PRAYAS)
• Shri Anandrao Adsul (MP)

Mentions in public forums:

Swapnil’s story has been published in multiple publications including:

• Loksatta (print edition)
• The Hitavada
• Dainik Sakal
• Dainik Bhaskar

Other mentions

• IAS Shri Kiran Gitte (Principal Secretary, Govt of Agartala)
• Dr. Manpreet Singh Manna (Director, AICTE)
• Dr. Nitin Dhande (Chairman, VYWS)
• Dr. Sunil Deshmukh (MLA, Amravati)
• Dr. Ajay Deshmukh (Registrar, Mumbai University)
• IAS Shri Rahul Kardile (CEO, MIHAN)
• IAS Rajendra Singh (Principal Secretary, Govt of Jharkhand)

In the year 2021, many well-renowned people endorsed the work done by me and my team. Few names and their videos I’m putting here:

• Hon Shri Nitin Gadkari (Cabinet Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Government of India)
• Hon. Shri Rahul Deshmukh (Vice President & MD India – Lear corporation)
• Hon. Dr Anil Sahasrabuddhe (Chairman – All India Council for Technical Education, AICTE, New Delhi)>
• Hon. Dr Devendra Khandait (Dy Director & Country Head – Bills & Melinda Gates Foundation)
• Hon, Shri Hanmantrao Gaikwad (Chairman & MD – BVG India Limited)
• IFS Dr Dnyneshwar Muley (Passport Man of India, Member – National Human Rights Commission)
• Dr. Uday Nirgudkar (CEO – Zee 24 Group)
• IAS Dr. Rajendra Bharud (District Collector, Nandurbar)
• Concept video of Mobile Eye Care
• Eye Donation concept video
• COVID Testing Labs (Max Maharashtra)