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Table 1 : Progress Indicators and Milestones
Indicator 1950s–1960s Current Status (2020s)
Trachoma >50% in endemic states (Punjab: 79.1%, <5% in most areas;
Prevalence in Rajasthan:74.2%) eliminated as a public
India health problem by 2017
High-endemic Punjab, Rajasthan, UP, Gujarat, MP, Bihar, Residual hotspots only; no
States J&K longer public health threat
National 1963 (under DGHS initially with WHO Trachoma component
Programme and UNICEF support). In 1976 India was phased out over the
Start the first country in the world to launch years post-elimination
The National Program for Control of declaration, while focus of
Blindness (NPCB) as a 100% centrally control of blindness and
sponsored scheme with RP Centre visual impairment activities
AIIMS as the Apex Institute which was extend and expand under
later integrated under the NHM and NPCBVI.
further upgraded in 2017 to The National
Program for Control of Blindness and
Visual Impairment (NPCBVI).
Initial Blanket topical antibiotic coverage + Targeted case detection
Treatment contact treatment and community
Strategy surveillance
Health Limited rural coverage; reliant on Integrated with general
Infrastructure vertical programmes health services & PHCs
Antibiotic Government-distributed tetracycline Broad access; azithromycin
Availability ointment used under SAFE strategy
WHO Status Endemic country Trachoma eliminated as
public health problem in
2017 and certified in 2024.

carrying the active organisms sticky discharge, irritation and
from person to person or watering and later on due to
through contaminated hands or repeated infections or recurrent/
fomites (towels/handkerchiefs/ chronic disease with resultant
other cloth used to wipe the complications leads to scarring
face or eyes) or flies in places/ of the cornea and conjunctival
situations with poor hygiene/ surface of the eye and eyelids
sanitation. Initially the infection with inward turning of the
leads to a form of conjunctivitis eyelashes and blindness in one
with redness of the eyes, or both eyes.

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