I am delighted to note that The/Nudge will be partnering with the Government of Maharashtra, specifically the district administration of Wardha District, to create a model of Presbyopia Diagnosis and Glasses distribution free for the entire district. Preventable blindness control is one of my core focuses, and this will contribute tremendously towards the same.
The last mile is not a metaphor; it is a lived geography. It demands proximity, contextualisation, patience, and empathy in implementation – demonstrated ably from the work with single mothers in Meghalaya, to denotified Lodha Sabar communities in West Bengal to PVTG communities across states.
Households often have very low investment capacity and limited confidence to engage. There is a need for structured sequencing and a very concerted and specific effort before integration into mainstream SHG institutions. Time-bound, protected engagement is critical before mainstream institutional integration.
