Letter to the Editor

Crippling disease

Sagar Singh

Sir — Recently, the Prime Minister’s Office was given information regarding DNA-testing of street-beggars. The PMO has, in turn, sent the suggestion to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, for suggestions on its implementation. If this idea is implemented, there is a possibility of the trafficked children being re-united with their respective biological parents, as no parent would like his/her progeny to be on the streets.

I would also like to draw the Government’s attention to the crippling disease of thalassaemia, which requires the patient to take regular blood transfusion, with the only permanent remedial action being a bone marrow transplant. This treatment is not only expensive, but even a donor is hard to find. To tackle the crisis, the Government should make it mandatory to have marriageable persons checked for this trait, since it is also hereditary.