AP YSR Kanti Velugu is the programme that gave free eye check-ups, free spectacles and free cataract surgery to the people of Andhra Pradesh. It was launched in October 2019 and aimed to screen the entire population of the state, from school children to old people. This guide explains what the programme did, who could get the free treatment, and what the current status of AP YSR Kanti Velugu is in 2026.

Kanti Velugu means the light of the eyes. The programme had three parts: free eye screening for everyone, free spectacles for those who needed them, and free surgery for cataract and other eye problems. There was no fee, and no income limit for the screening. If you need eye treatment today, read the current status section first, because AP YSR Kanti Velugu was a programme of the 2019-2024 government and no fresh camps have been announced under the current government.

What Is AP YSR Kanti Velugu?

AP YSR Kanti Velugu is a universal eye care programme for Andhra Pradesh. Many people in the state, especially old people and school children, have eye problems that are never checked. A child who cannot see the blackboard falls behind in studies. An old person with a cataract cannot work and becomes dependent on the family. Kanti Velugu was started to find these problems early and treat them free of cost.

The programme worked in two phases. In the first phase, school children were screened in their schools. Children who needed spectacles got them free, and children with other eye problems were referred to hospitals for treatment. In the second phase, the general population was screened at the village level by health workers, and those who needed glasses or surgery were referred to government hospitals or empanelled hospitals. The cataract surgeries were done free of cost, under the Aarogyasri health scheme.

The programme was run by the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department of the Andhra Pradesh government, with the help of the school education department for the school phase and the Village and Ward Secretariats for the village phase. The screening was done by trained health workers, and the treatment was done by eye doctors in government and empanelled hospitals.

Who Was Covered by AP YSR Kanti Velugu?

AP YSR Kanti Velugu covered everyone in Andhra Pradesh. There was no income limit for the eye screening, and no caste or community condition. These groups were covered:

• School children in government and private schools, screened in the first phase.
• Old people, who are most affected by cataract and other eye problems.
• Adults of all ages, screened at the village level in the second phase.
• People with diabetes and high blood pressure, who are at risk of eye damage.
• People who already wore spectacles, whose power could be checked and changed free of cost.

The screening was free for all. The spectacles were free for all who needed them. The cataract surgery was free for white ration card holders, under the Aarogyasri scheme, and the treatment of other eye problems was also covered under Aarogyasri. For the details of the health scheme, read our guide to Dr NTR Vaidya Seva.

What Did AP YSR Kanti Velugu Give?

AP YSR Kanti Velugu gave three things, free of cost:

• Free eye screening: a basic eye test, using a vision chart and a torch, to find out whether the person could see clearly, had a cataract or had another eye problem.
• Free spectacles: reading glasses and distance glasses for those who needed them, given after the power was checked by an eye doctor or a trained worker.
• Free cataract surgery: surgery for cataract, and treatment for other eye problems, done in government hospitals or empanelled hospitals, free for Aarogyasri card holders.

The spectacles were given at the screening camp or at the hospital, after the power was checked. The surgery was done after the patient was referred to the hospital and the doctor confirmed that surgery was needed. The patient did not have to pay for the screening, the spectacles or the surgery. The government paid the hospital under the Aarogyasri scheme.

How Did AP YSR Kanti Velugu Work?

Follow these steps, which were used when the programme was running:

1. Health workers and ANMs visited the village and announced the screening camp at the Village Secretariat or the health sub-centre.
2. People came to the camp with their Aadhaar card, and their eyes were tested free of cost.
3. Those who needed spectacles were given a prescription, and the spectacles were given free at the camp or at the hospital.
4. Those who needed surgery or further treatment were referred to the nearest government hospital or empanelled hospital.
5. At the hospital, the eye doctor confirmed the problem and did the surgery or the treatment free of cost, under the Aarogyasri scheme.

School children were screened in their schools, by teams that visited the school. The school gave the list of children who needed spectacles to the health department, and the spectacles were given to the children at the school. Children who needed treatment were referred to the hospital with their parents. For the health and nutrition help that young children get, see our guide to Anganwadi in AP.

Current Status of AP YSR Kanti Velugu in 2026

AP YSR Kanti Velugu was launched by the YSRCP government in October 2019 and ran till 2024. The government changed in June 2024, and the new government has not announced fresh Kanti Velugu camps. As of November 2026, there is no open Kanti Velugu screening camp and no new spectacles are being given under this programme name.

This does not mean eye treatment is not available. If you need eye treatment today, these are the routes:

• Visit the eye OPD of the nearest government hospital or community health centre. The eye check-up is free, and spectacles are given at a low cost or free in many hospitals.
• White ration card holders can get cataract surgery and other eye treatment free under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva (Aarogyasri) at empanelled hospitals. Take your Aarogyasri card and Aadhaar card to the hospital.
• School children are still screened under the school health programme, and children who need spectacles are referred for treatment. Ask the school whether the screening has been done.
• Old people who need help with a pension or a health card can visit the nearest Village or Ward Secretariat for guidance.

If you were screened under Kanti Velugu and told that you needed surgery, and the surgery was not done, visit the nearest government hospital with your old prescription and ask for the treatment under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva. Do not pay anyone who promises to arrange a Kanti Velugu surgery. The Andhra Pradesh government’s portal is ap.gov.in, and scheme announcements are made there first. For certificates and other government services, the official portal is meeseva.ap.gov.in.

Frequently Asked Questions About AP YSR Kanti Velugu

What did AP YSR Kanti Velugu give?

Free eye screening for everyone, free spectacles for those who needed them, and free cataract surgery and treatment for other eye problems, under the Aarogyasri scheme.

Who was covered by AP YSR Kanti Velugu?

Everyone in Andhra Pradesh, from school children to old people. There was no income limit for the screening, and the surgery was free for white ration card holders under Aarogyasri.

Is AP YSR Kanti Velugu still running in 2026?

No. The programme ran from October 2019 to 2024 under the previous government, and no fresh camps have been announced under the current government as of November 2026. Eye treatment is available at government hospitals and under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva.

How can I get a free cataract surgery now?

Visit the nearest government hospital or an empanelled hospital with your Aarogyasri card and Aadhaar card. Cataract surgery is covered under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva for white ration card holders.

Are school children still screened for eye problems?

Yes, school children are screened under the school health programme. Ask the school whether the screening has been done, and whether your child needs spectacles.

Final Word

AP YSR Kanti Velugu gave free eye screening, spectacles and cataract surgery to the people of Andhra Pradesh, from October 2019 to 2024. It found eye problems early, especially in school children and old people, and treated them free of cost. As of November 2026, the programme is not running fresh camps, but eye treatment is still available at government hospitals and under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva. If your eyesight is weak or cloudy, do not wait for a camp. Visit the nearest government hospital and get your eyes checked. For other scheme updates and payment news, see our roundup of Andhra Pradesh schemes in August 2026.

Last updated: November 2026