One-and-a-Half-Year-Old Kartik from Karauli Battles Rare SMA Type-1 Disease; Needs ₹16 Crore Injection

Karauli: A heartbreaking medical emergency has emerged from Baldevpur village in Nadoti sub-division of Karauli district, Rajasthan. Kartik Meena, a one-and-a-half-year-old boy, is suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA Type-1) — a rare genetic disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and can be fatal without timely treatment.

Kartik is currently undergoing treatment at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital. According to medical experts, he urgently requires an injection of Zolgensma, a life-saving gene therapy considered one of the most expensive drugs in the world — priced at approximately ₹16 crore.

His father, Ravi Kumar Meena, works as a Group C employee in the Indian Railways, and the family’s modest financial background makes affording the treatment impossible.

In a heartfelt video circulated on social media, Kartik’s mother has appealed for financial support from the public. In response, Agriculture Minister Dr. Kirori Lal Meena and Karauli MLA Darshan Singh have written to Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, requesting financial aid for the treatment.

Call for Collective Action

Time is critical. With proper and timely intervention, Kartik’s life can be saved. The family is seeking support from government authorities, philanthropic organizations, and kind-hearted individuals. A request for help from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund has been placed, and hopes are high for a positive response.