Agartala, September 11: The Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund has sanctioned Rs 50,000 towards the advanced medical treatment of Agartala resident Soham Paul, following a request taken up by Tripura West Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb.
The assistance is meant to support Soham’s treatment at Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata. The Prime Minister’s Office communicated the sanction to the hospital’s Director in a letter dated September 7, 2026.
The PMO has approved the assistance in principle towards the treatment cost. However, the amount actually admissible will be restricted to 50 per cent of the expenditure incurred or Rs 50,000, whichever is lower, subject to the stipulated conditions.
Soham’s case was brought to the attention of Deb, who said he subsequently forwarded the application to the PMNRF seeking financial assistance for the patient’s specialised treatment.
Deb expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the approval.
“I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, for sanctioning medical assistance of ₹50,000 from the PMNRF to Shri Soham Pal,” he said.
The MP said the assistance was sanctioned within a short period after the application was forwarded. He described the response as reflecting the Prime Minister’s sympathetic consideration of appeals from families facing difficulties in arranging costly medical treatment.
Deb also pointed to previous instances in which the PMNRF had provided financial support to patients requiring expensive medical interventions. He said such assistance can provide significant support to families dealing with the financial burden of serious illnesses.
The PMNRF was established to extend relief to people affected by calamities and those facing medical emergencies. Financial assistance for eligible medical cases is provided according to prescribed rules and conditions.
In recent years, patients from Tripura have also received support through the fund for specialised treatment, helping families manage a portion of their medical expenses.
The latest sanction is expected to provide some financial assistance to Soham Paul’s family while he continues treatment in Kolkata. The final admissible amount will depend on the expenditure incurred and the conditions specified in the PMO sanction.
