Punarvika in her mother’s lap as IT Minister Nara Lokesh looks on, at a children’s hospital in Hyderabad. Punarvika, a one-year-old girl from Veldurthi in Kurnool district, who had been diagnosed of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA Type-1), a life-threatening genetic disorder, got a new lease of life, as IT Minister Nara Lokesh stepped in to save her by bridging the ₹6 crore funding gap, thereby facilitating a one-time gene therapy injection, Zolgensma, that costs nearly ₹16 crore. According to a press release, the girl was saved due to a combination of public support, medical intervention, and timely assistance from Mr. Lokesh. Published – April 18, 2026 08:20 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation IIMM hosts seminar on future of supply chain in AI-driven era Print media distributors seek inclusion in gig workers’ welfare board