Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting with Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, and Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth to strengthen convergence and accelerate the implementation of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan through a whole-of-government approach.
Addressing the meeting, Nadda referred to the remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent PRAGATI review meeting, where the Prime Minister underscored the need to harness the power of India’s youth to transform the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan into a nationwide people’s movement.
“The power of India’s youth must be leveraged to make TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan a nationwide people’s movement,” said Nadda.
He stated that achieving the goal of eliminating tuberculosis requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, with every ministry, institution and stakeholder contributing through their respective strengths and outreach. He added that the participation of young people, community organisations, educational institutions, workplaces and government departments will support awareness, early detection, treatment adherence and patient support.
“Active participation of youth and all stakeholders is essential to achieve a TB-Mukt Bharat,” Nadda said.
Speaking to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Nadda urged the ministry to scale up the engagement of MY Bharat volunteers and National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets through the existing TB Mukt Bharat Toli model. He also called for the expansion of volunteer-led mobilisation for screening camps, strengthening of the Experiential Learning Programme that trains volunteers as Lead Ni-kshay Mitras, and youth-led awareness initiatives in schools, colleges and communities.
The Union Health Minister also sought continued and expanded support from the Ministry of Defence through NCC cadets and defence personnel for community awareness rallies, mobilisation for screening camps, household contact education and nutrition support drives for TB patients. He also called for the integration of TB awareness into NCC training camps, Republic Day and Independence Day activities, adventure camps and rural outreach programmes.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya suggested stronger institutional convergence and coordinated action to support the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. He stated that India has nearly 6 lakh undergraduate medical students and around 2 lakh postgraduate medical students who can be engaged in the campaign through medical colleges across the country.
Mandaviya also suggested that candidates from the Pratibha Setu programme be engaged in District TB Coordination Committees. He said around 600 officers under the programme could coordinate between the Government of India, deans of medical colleges and state government District TB Officers to support planning, implementation and monitoring of TB elimination activities at the district level.
He also stressed the need to involve the Ministry of Education to strengthen coordination with medical colleges, educational institutions and youth networks.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in December 2024, has accelerated tuberculosis elimination efforts through active case finding, patient support and a whole-of-government approach.
Since the launch of the campaign, more than 28 crore vulnerable individuals have been screened for tuberculosis across the country, resulting in the notification of more than 39 lakh TB patients. Of these, 12.93 lakh asymptomatic TB patients were identified through active screening using chest X-rays.
The ministry also stated that more than 5.7 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras have registered under the initiative and distributed 38.9 lakh nutrition baskets to TB patients. More than 20 lakh patients have also been assessed and provided individualised support under the programme’s differentiated care approach.
The meeting focused on enhancing inter-sectoral coordination to expand the reach of tuberculosis prevention, early detection, treatment adherence, nutritional support and community participation by leveraging the institutional strengths and outreach networks of the participating ministries.
During the discussions, it was agreed that the outreach network of MY Bharat volunteers, NCC cadets and youth organisations would be used to expand the TB Mukt Bharat Toli model, support community mobilisation for TB screening camps, strengthen the Experiential Learning Programme for Lead Ni-kshay Mitras and expand awareness campaigns in schools, colleges and communities.
The meeting also discussed the development of a TB-free workplace framework by integrating TB screening into occupational health practices, particularly in sectors including mining, construction, textiles, transport and among migrant workers. It also focused on mobilising employers, trade unions and labour welfare institutions, including the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and the Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), to facilitate workplace screening, support treatment continuity and promote measures for workers undergoing TB treatment.
The meeting also agreed to further leverage the network of NCC cadets and defence personnel to support awareness rallies, mobilisation for TB screening camps, household contact education and nutrition support initiatives for TB patients.
The meeting was attended by Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Health; Dr Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs; Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary, Department of Sports; Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission; Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services; Dr Priyanka Shukla, Chief Executive Officer, MY Bharat; and senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Defence and other departments.