Delhi University approves ₹17-crore aid for treatment of nine-month-old with rare genetic disorder

New Delhi: Delhi University on Friday approved a proposal to provide ₹17 crore in financial assistance for the treatment of the nine-month-old daughter of a faculty member at the School of Open Learning (SOL). The child has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type II, a rare genetic disorder.

SOL officials said Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh had constituted a special committee, which recommended the financial assistance. Before the decision, the SOL Academic Association had launched a crowdfunding initiative that raised ₹3.11 crore through contributions from the Tata Trust, the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, online platforms such as Impact Guru, Milaap, Ketto and GoFundMe, the Teacher Relief Fund and SOL’s non-academic staff association.

Payal Mago, Director of SOL, said the coordinated efforts of university faculty and prompt action had helped secure financial assistance for the child’s treatment within the required timeframe. She said any delay could have put the child’s life at risk.