SMA treatment fund: Fake voice message disrupts fundraising for triplets in Kerala

Mukkam: A false voice message circulating on social media has put the treatment aid committee for three toddlers suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disease, in distress. The message falsely claims that the Rs 50 crore required for the children's treatment has already been raised and urges people to stop sending money.

The committee has expressed concern that the misinformation could affect the ongoing fundraising campaign for the children, David, Ethan and Oliver, triplets from Kallurutti in Poovatherrichal.

A total of Rs 50 crore is required for their treatment. On Friday, the 20th day of the public fundraising campaign, the amount collected stood at Rs 16.30 crore. The false message came to the committee's attention on Thursday.

The committee had set a daily fundraising target of Rs 1 crore. However, only Rs 35 lakh was collected on Friday. Office-bearers told Mathrubhumi that the misinformation had emerged at a critical time, with more than Rs 33 crore still to be raised within the remaining 30 days.

A committee has been formed with Priyanka Gandhi MP, M.K. Raghavan MP, MLAs C.K. Kasim and P.K. Firoz, District Panchayat President Millie Mohan, and Mukkam Municipality Chairperson K.P. Chandni as patrons. Oassery Grama Panchayat President Super Soudha is the chairperson.

Bank account details for contributions:

• Account name: Arun P.D.

• Account number: 21360100162505

• IFSC: FDRL0002136

Guidelines for transferring money

The committee has also issued the following instructions to ensure that contributions reach the correct account:

1. Sending money through Google Pay

Those using Google Pay to transfer money through a UPI ID are advised not to enter the ID in the search bar that appears on the app's home screen. Instead, they should select the 'Pay Anyone' option and enter the UPI ID there. The payment should be made only after verifying that the account details displayed are correct.

2. Transferring money through a bank account

Those making contributions through bank account details are advised not to use the bank transfer option in UPI apps such as Google Pay and PhonePe. Instead, they should make the transfer directly through the official mobile banking app of their respective bank.