Can India meet Modi's ambitious TB target?

As PM Modi has always said, whenever each and every one across our nation takes a step together, our country moves 130 crore steps forward. This is an irrefutable belief in the role of Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) when it comes to building a prosperous nation. It is by capitalising on this wave of collective strength and unity, that we will move towards a New India that is TB-free by 2025. Even a small, seemingly insignificant contribution by every individual ignites a Jan Andolan (people’s movement). Success is usually almost always fully guaranteed when the government and citizens of the country come together for a common mission. The Swachh Bharat Mission, Covid vaccination drive and the recently concluded Har Ghar Tiranga campaign are stellar examples of the same. And when the world set for itself 2030 as the target date for TB elimination, PM Modi set a more ambitious goal of making India TB-free by 2025, five years ahead of the global target. This has been completely driven and encouraged by his belief in our country’s spirit of collective action and contribution. It is to achieve this ambitious target that GoI initiated the Ni-Kshay Poshan scheme, under the aegis of the National TB Elimination Programme.Under this scheme, between 2018 and June 2022, 62.71 lakh persons affected with TB have received a total financial support of Rs 1,651 crore. This includes direct benefit transfer of Rs 500 per month, directly into the bank account of the person with TB. This has enabled the persons to address their nutritional requirements. In this context, it is appropriate that I make a special mention of Anandiben Patel, governor of Uttar Pradesh, who initiated the campaign for adopting TB patients, which continues to receive widespread appreciation. Inspired by Patel’s work and to provide an added impetus to the adoption campaign, GoI has initiated the Ni-Kshay 2.0 portal under the Pradhan Mantri TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. This was launched by President Droupadi Murmu yesterday.This portal provides a digital platform for extending community support to persons with TB. Any individual or organisation can register as a Ni-Kshay Mitra on this portal to provide such support.The underlying objectives of this campaign for adoption of persons with TB are to eradicate the existing societal stigma and discrimination against them, provide them with much-needed nutritional and social support, and help them lead a normal life. Under this initiative, individuals, corporate entities, cooperative organisations, elected representatives, non-governmental organisations, political parties, everyone can provide support by adopting persons with TB. You too can log in to the Ni-Kshay 2.0 portal (bit.ly/3RJifZ2) and pledge to provide your support. You can support persons with TB, for a minimum duration of one year and a maximum of three years, in any block or district across the country. They need three key types of support. Provision of a kit comprising appropriate, need-based items to take care of their nutritional requirements. Support for additional lab-based diagnostic requirements. Equipping them with vocational skills to enhance their employability and chances of a better livelihood. It should be noted that GoI also provides free diagnosis, free medicines and other kinds of support to persons with TB. However, I believe that your support and collective action will bring unprecedented energy and vigour to our journey of becoming TB-Mukt Bharat. It is my earnest appeal to you to come forward and actively support this mission so that we can truly realise our vision for this Jan Andolan. Please do your bit towards the nation’s collective battle against TB. Like we are fighting Covid with grit and determination, we will fight and win our collective battle against TB. In the Ramayan, when Shri Ram was building the bridge to Lanka, a small squirrel also came forward to help. Shri Ram immensely appreciated even this small contribution. Let us be inspired by this squirrel. All of us as citizens of India can contribute immensely to the Pradhan Mantri TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, encouraged by the mantra Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas Aur Sabka Prayas. And our Jan Andolan can indeed make India TB-free by 2025. TB Harega, Desh Jeetega!