Sonesh Surana
PhD Researcher
University of California at Berkeley

On my last trip to Aravind in February, I got a chance to interview patients at the vision centers. Since I know very little Tamil, I just created a list of questions in English that Pradip, from Aravind, asked in Tamil. The interviews didnt always go according to plan, but they always ended up being very interesting conversations.

I: Sir, tell us your name.

P: Ramaswamy

I: Ramaswamy?

P: Yes, P. Ramaswamy

I: How old are you?

P: 64.Done with 64 in June.

I: How many people are in your house?

P: Who is staying in my house?

I: Yes, how many of you?

P: Just me and my wife.

I: Yes, you can keep the mike here [motions to a stool]. And then you can speak normally [without having to hold the mic].

P: Okay. I have two sons and two daughters. All of them are married.

I: So you have four kids?

P: Yes

I: And then you and your wife?

P: Yes

I: So a total of six.

P: Yes

I: Just two of you at home?

P: Yes, the sons are there. And the grandchildren

I: So both your sons are with you?

P: No, one son is in BSF [Border Security Force]. He is in Assam. His kids are with us.

I: Okay

P: The other son is here at home working. The daughters are married off.

I: Where are they?

P: One daughter in this town and one outside.

I: Okay. What do you do? Do you work?

P: I used to work in the Milk Society but I retired six years ago. They have a division called VLW [Village Level Worker].

I: Mill Society?

P: Bodi Milk Society. Cooperative Milk Society. I worked there for 30 years. Now I am retired. I retired in 1999during the 8th month.

I: Okay.

P: There I used to e in testing. I would go for milk tests. There is something called a Village Level Worker. And it has a veterinary section. After my retirement, I continue to do the same work.

I: Same work?

P: Yes, Aavin [brand name of the Milk Society] gives me a society name and I do the same work.

I: Who?

P: Aavin. They give me work.

I: So you have been working after retirement?

P: Yes, yes I have been working.

I: How many days a week do you work?

P: Every day

I: Daily?

P: Yes, daily.

I: Okay

P: No rest. Before also, when I was working with the society, I didnt take leave. I dont even take CL [Casual Leave].

I: So you go in the morning and work till evening?

P: Yes. The same now. I leave at 6 in the morning and come back at 10. And then again I go at 4 PM and come back by 6.30.

I: How many days a week?

P: All days

I: From Monday to Saturday?

P: Yes, till Saturday.

I: So you dont go to work on Sunday?

P: If I feel like it, I wont go. Otherwise I go to work.

I: Where is your house?

P: Near here. Third ward.

I: Third ward?

P: Yes. 3 / 56.

I: Address is 3 / 56?

P: Yes.Third ward, fifty-sixth house.

I: How far is this vision center from your house?

P: Around two furlongs.

I: Will that be a kilometer?

P: No, it will be less than that. Maybe half of that.

I: Do you have a vehicle?

P: Yes, I hav a TVS vehicle [two-wheeler] from long back. For 14000 rupees.

I: TVS?

P: Yes, TVS 50.

I: So you go to work in that vehicle?

P: Yes.

I: So you came here on the same vehicle?

P: Yes

I: You had no issues?

P: No. I could have come walking here. But I am used to the vehicle.

I: Since when do you know about this vision center?

P: When Karunanidhi started it, I knew it from then.

I: When was that?

P: Long back.

I: Who told you about this specific vision center?

P: This one? I didnt know about this one until a month ago. A Muslim boy told me. He told me that they have a vision center here and that we dont need to go to Theni.

I: A Muslim boy told you this?

P: Yes.

I: Where does he live?

P: He is here. Nearby. His name is Mustafa.

I: How does he know about this center?

P: He knew. He lives nearby.

I: So he told you?

P: Yes. Then I started coming here.

I: Just a month ago?

P: Yes. That boy told me just a month a ago.

I: When did you first come here?

P: Just now.

I: This is your first time?

P: Yes.

I: So you came alone today?

P: Yes

I: You have come today. Are you on leave today?

P: No. I am done with morning work. So I thought I will come here and then go back to work at 4 PM

I: So you dont work at this time?

P: No.

I: So you havent missed work because you came here?

P: No

I: Instead of coming here, if you had to go to Theni would that be convenient for you or do you prefer coming here?

P: This is convenient. I prefer coming here.

I: Why do you think so?

P: I dont need to go to Theni unless it is something major. All the minor things can be taken care of here.

I: All your minor complaints?

P: Yes, all that can taken care of here

I: Yes. But is coming here convenient or going to Theni better?

P: It is like First Aid. And if I have to go to Theni after this, I can go there.

I: How long is it to Theni? Half hour?

P: Twenty minutes. Yeah, half hour. If I go to Theni, the entire day will be gone.

I: Yes?

P: Yes with all the checkup and everything else, the day will be gone. Get down at Theni bus stand, and then go again and to see the doctor.

I: So this is much better?

P: Yes, this is very convenient. Before, the Government Hospital used to be in Madurai. Now they have [a new hospital?] here. It is very crowded but it is great. For childbirth, going to a private doctor costs around 12000. The taxi will be about 400 and the total cost will be less than 1000. But this new hospital is great, very convenient. They do C-section and it is all fast. If we go to Madurai, it is very inconvenient. [He goes on to talk about these two hospitals but I cant understand what he is trying to say. He seems to be very happy with the new hospital but I am not sure whether it is more expensive or not; also, the hospital doesnt refer to the vision center at all]

I: If this vision center was not here, what would you do?

P: I would have to go to Aravind at Theni or Madurai.

I: Theni Aravind. Or else Madurai?

P: Yes. What is the alternative? Eyes are so important.

I: You would surely have gone [to Theni or Madurai] if this center wasnt here?

P: Surely. But this is more convenient. I would have delayed going to Theni but this one, I can come when I want to.

I: Okay. Before you came here, did you know that there was no doctor here?

P: [I knew that] someone will be here. I knew someone equivalent to a doctor will be here. That boy told me that you can talk to the doctor in Theni or Madurai through TV and that it is very convenient.

I: So he told you this?

P: Yes.

I: So you knew you could talk through TV?

P: Yes, yes.

I: So you didnt feel like you needed a doctor to be here physically?

P: Not at all. There are always compounders and nurses.

I: Also you can talk through the TV?

P: Yes, of course.

I: So you were okay with the doctor not being here?

P: Yes, I spoke to the doctor and they told me to wait for a week and if it [the treatment] doesnt work, come to Theni. So it is not a problem. A lot of people here do not know about this center. I am telling a lot of people.

I: Okay. If there was no doctor here and you couldnt talk through TV, would you have come here?

P: I would have to go to Theni. Eyes are so important.

I: What is the issue with your eyes?

P: In 1999, eighth month, I couldnt see anything using my left eye. I went to Theni Aravind. I spent 3000 rupees; they did an operation and sent me back [This date corresponds with the retirement date he mentioned earlier, but not sure if this was the reason he had to retire].

I: When was this? 92?

P: No, 99. I was there in the hospital for three days and then I came back. Everything was fine for a while. Once in a while, there would be some discharge but it was fine. But a week ago, I started having irritation in my eye. It turned red. I remembered Mustafa telling me about this place and so I came here.

I: The same eye you had the operation on?

P: Yes, the same eye.

P: The right eye is not perfectly fine either. I cannot see clearly with my right eye.

I: So you have consulted the doctor now?

P: Yes.I talked to the doctor.She told me that its just an irritation and gave me some drops. She asked me to come after a week and then they would tell me whether to go to Theni or not.

I: So you have to go Theni now?

P: She asked me to wait for 5 days and then come.

I: When you cam here, what all did they do? What tests? How did you feel?

P: First they checked my pressure.

I: Okay

P: Then they asked me whether I have sugar [diabetes]. I said I have Plus One.

I: You have sugar?

P: Yes.

I: You checked that here?

P: No, I knew that. I try to maintain it at Plus One. Once in a while it will climb up to Plus Two but I will reduce it. For pressure, until now I have had no problems. But here, they told me that pressure has gone up.

I: Okay, so you found that after coming here?

P: Yes. I take a lot of tension usually. I asked the lady whether I should reduce food. She told me that I have to reduce tension.

I: Did they do other tests? On your eye?

P: Yes, they did all tests. All the eye tests they did. She said that long sight was a bit low. So she asked me to change lenses.

I: Did they say anything else?

P: Yes, the doctor told me to use the eye drops since I have reddening. Take it for five days, she said. If there is a problem, it could be something with the nerve, she said.

I: All these tests, who did them?

P: The girl here, the nurse.

I: The sister here?

P: Yes

I: Did they do it well?

P: Of course. They were very kind also.

I: How was talking to the doctor through the TV? Were you able to ask all your questions?

P: Yes, that girl asked all the questions.

I: The doctor talked fine?

P: Yes

I: Were you able to ask the doctor questions?

P: Yes, I told her [the doctor] all about the operation. She asked me whether I had come for tests before. I said no. I havent had any tests after my operation. I came here now because I am having problems with eye now. To this sub center.

I: How long did you talk?

P: Just some 2-3 minutes.

I: Did you feel satisfied?

P: Yes, I could talk to the doctor.

I: So you did not feel like the doctor had to be present here physically?

P: No, this was fine. She asked me all the questions and I was able to answer.

I: This experience of talking through the TV? How was it?

P: It was fine. [He then goes on about some practicals that he used to do as part of his work and how that was good work but I cannot understand the connection. Something about how he used to train people and how there were a couple of women who they are asking him to train now but he has refused]

I: So this person here [the computer operator], she talked to the doctor about all your complaints?

P: Yes.

I: Was that okay?

P: Yes, she said everything I had told here. It was fine.

I: So you like being able to talk to the doctor through the TV?

P: Yes.

I: Were you able to see the doctor clearly through this screen?

P: Yes, this person here, she conveyed all my complaints.

I: Were you able to see the doctor clearly?

P: Yes

I: Was the doctor able to hear clearly what you were saying?

P: Yes, she understood everything. This girl here, she has also noted everything. So it was all fine.

I: What did the doctor say?

P: She asked this girl to give me drops for 5 days. She said it could be a nerve problem.

I: Thank you so much. We just wanted to talk to you and ask you some questions.

P: Yes. [He says something about how he has gotten awards for something!]

I: Okay, thank you.