Mission Ujala: Parents Seek Affordable Treatment for Three Children Battling Severe Eye Illness

In Kushinagar’s Tamkuhiraj, a family grapples with a distressing situation as three children are afflicted with a severe eye disease. Initially leading normal lives for five years after birth, their eyesight began to deteriorate gradually, ultimately reaching a point where their vision was completely lost. This unforeseen tragedy compounded the family’s existing financial struggles, plunging them into immense hardship.

The father, driven by an unwavering determination to restore his children’s eyesight, diligently pursued treatment at the local level. However, the severity of the condition necessitated the doctors to refer the children to AIIMS in Delhi.

Tragically, the family, already burdened by financial constraints, lacks the means to afford treatment in Delhi. Despite seeking government assistance, the scheme providing free medication up to Rs 5 lakh for the underprivileged has proven unattainable for this family as they do not possess an Ayushman card under this initiative.

Chandrika Chauhan, a resident of Kushinagar, shoulders the responsibility of her family by working alongside local traders. Her three children – Rajan, aged 16, Geeta, aged 14, and the youngest, Mukesh, aged 12 – enjoyed good eyesight for the first five years of their lives. However, the onset of blindness struck at this age, initially manifesting mildly but progressively leading to complete loss of vision.

Struggling to make ends meet through manual labor, Chandrika made efforts to seek treatment locally. Yet, as the situation grew more dire, doctors recommended seeking medical assistance in New Delhi. Expressing her plight, Chandrika emphasizes that despite her family’s dire need due to poverty, they remain without an Ayushman card. Acquiring this card could have facilitated their children’s treatment at AIIMS.

Mukesh, the youngest son, expressed his aspirations to pursue engineering if his eyesight could be restored through treatment. However, the family continues to suffer the repercussions of administrative neglect and systemic disinterest. They ardently hope for governmental awareness and intervention, believing it could bring a ray of hope and light back into their lives.