ABLE Journey
The Journey of ABLE Charities
ABLE (Association for Blindness and Leprosy Eradication):33 Years of Service
ABLE Charities is now over 33 years old. The dream of this project originated in 1970 when the President, Squadron Leader (Retd.) Prem Kumar Khullar, was the Chief Administrative Officer at Indian Air Force Station Bidar, Karnataka, India. Inspired by organizations serving poor leprosy patients and the visually impaired, he envisioned a similar initiative to aid those in need.
In 1993, this vision took shape in the village of Mitrol, then part of Faridabad District, to serve impoverished villagers. Medical services were initially provided at an extremely low cost of ₹5, which was highly appreciated by the local community.
ABLE Charities Medical Centre – Village Mitrol, Palwal (1993)
The center began operations under challenging conditions—without electricity or water. Patients and the President often sat outside under the trees. Despite these hardships, the organization persevered for 7.5 years. A generous land donation of over 6.5 acres from the village of Bahrola, Palwal, enabled the construction of a small building, marking the start of structured medical services. The center gradually expanded, offering a wide range of treatments, including numerous low-cost surgeries.
ABLE CHARITES Medical Centre at Village Mitrol, Palwal 1993
Expansion of Services:-
Education Initiatives (2000)
In 2000, ABLE introduced Non-Formal Schools to provide education to children in Faridabad slums. Following the policy,“If children cannot go to school, the school must go to the children,” the initiative started with one school under the trees and grew into eight schools serving nearly 600 children, all receiving free nutritious meals at lunchtime.
Eye Department (2008)
By 2008, an Eye Care Department was established, which has since grown significantly. Today, the center performs 1,300 to 1,400 cataract surgeries annually, attracting thousands of patients seeking quality eye care. 60% of the surgeries are free.
Dialysis Services (2021)
In 2021, ABLE launched a Dialysis Center with support from Rotary Clubs. Now the largest dialysis center in Palwal, it offers treatments at an affordable cost of just ₹750 per session, with a consultation fee of only ₹50.
ABLE Gurukul (2021)
Established in 2021, ABLE Gurukul serves as an orphanage and skill development center, providing shelter and holistic care to 61 orphaned and displaced girls. It ensures their emotional, educational, and social development for a brighter future. Additionally, ABLE Gurukul empowers underprivileged youth by offering training in fine arts, tailoring, computer education, and sports, fostering self-reliance and career opportunities.
Mobile Eye Clinic Project (2024)
Launched in 2024, this project addresses vision issues among rural children, focusing on government schools in Palwal and Nuh districts.
Impact so far:
19,000 students screened across 115 schools
1,300 free spectacles distributed
Surgeries initiated for children with severe vision impairments
Future goals:
Screening 500,000 children
Distributing 50,000 free spectacles
Conducting 5,000 critical eye surgeries (including cataracts and other vision impairments)
This initiative plays a crucial role in preventing childhood blindness and improving educational outcomes for underprivileged children.
