In a wonderful story of helping others, a college student named Arbina Anwar Shaikh has changed the life of a 10-year-old orphan girl named Tulsi Jadhav from Mulshi, Maharashtra. Tulsi had very poor eyesight, only 5%, but after successful cataract surgery, her vision improved to 75%.
This journey began when Arbina was part of a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp and noticed that Tulsi couldn’t see well. Even though Arbina didn’t have much money, she was determined to help Tulsi. She reached out to many people and groups to find the help Tulsi needed for her eye surgery.
Arbina got support from her school Principal Sonal Jadhav and NSS Coordinator Prof. Rajashree Pol. Together, they worked hard to get the necessary approvals. They also teamed up with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to make sure Tulsi’s case was processed quickly under a special hospital scheme for those in need.
The surgery was successfully done by Dr. Akshay Kothari at the National Institute of Ophthalmology in March 2025. After the operation, Tulsi could see much better, which allowed her to do normal activities and go to school like other children.
Now that Tulsi can see clearly, she dreams of becoming a doctor one day. This shows how important it’s to detect and treat eye problems early, especially for children who need help.
This story teaches us that when students, schools, and healthcare workers come together, they can make a big difference in someone’s life. Arbina’s efforts remind us that young people can help solve important problems in their communities.
The success story adds to Pune’s education scene, where students increasingly engage in community service while pursuing their studies.
