Sambalpur boy suffering from DMD gets Rs 10 lakh from CM Relief Fund 

In a noble gesture, the Sambalpur district administration on Saturday came to the rescue of a 16-year-old boy, who has been suffering from a disease called Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and gave an amount of Rs 10 lakh to his family for his treatment. 

The amount has been released from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. 

Sources said Sritam Behera, son of Sukadeba Behera of Chipilima area in Sambalpur district, was seven years old when he was afflicted with the DMD. Now he is completely bedridden as his muscles are degenerating. 

The family reportedly has spent all that they had with them to treat him. At a time when they were in need of money, the help from the district administration came as a huge relief. They said they would utilize the money for his treatment.  

“The disease was first detected when he was seven years old. He is no longer able to walk. It is a genetic disease. As per the doctors at Manipal Hospital, a mother is the carrier of this disease. It can’t be said when it will show up. And normally boys are the victims of this disease,” said Sukadeba, the patient’s father. 

When contacted, Sambalpur district Collector Ananya Das said, “From the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, a sum of Rs 10 lakhs has been given to Sritam Behera, who is suffering from muscular dystrophy. We hope the money will help him in his further treatment. During our discussion with his parents, they also said that they would use the money for treatment and buying physiotherapy equipment.”