Meeting on implementation of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in Assam at Lok Bhavan
Guwahati, Rongili Barta: As directed by Assam Governor Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya, a meeting to review and strengthen the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in Assam was held today at Lok Bhavan.
The meeting was chaired by Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor, Shri S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram.
Mission Director, National Health Mission, Dr. Lakshmanan S. attended the meeting virtually and presented an overview of the State’s progress. Under Phase-II of the 100 Days Campaign, Assam has achieved 97 per cent coverage of Ayushman Arogya Shivir in high-risk villages, 55 per cent, X-ray screening of vulnerable populations, 93.1 per cent, NAAT coverage, 78.2 per cent coverage under Differentiated TB Care and 74 per cent coverage of TB Preventive Treatment. Progress under the Nikshay Mitra initiative stands at 73.3 per cent.
The meeting noted that 1,232 Gram Panchayats/VDCs/VCDCs, constituting 96 per cent of the total, were certified under the TB Mukt Panchayat initiative in 2025. From January to July 2026, 9,474 out of 23,046 notified TB patients received DBT benefits.
The meeting reviewed Assam’s institutional mechanisms for TB elimination, including regular reviews at the State and district levels, monitoring by senior officers, involvement of NCC and MY Bharat volunteers, sensitisation of elected representatives, and district-level TB death audits. The decline in TB mortality through strengthened Differentiated TB Care was also noted.
Emphasising the importance of Janbhagidari, the meeting discussed wider involvement of elected representatives, universities and higher educational institutions, corporates, PSUs, civil society organisations, religious leaders and citizens. Lok Bhavan will undertake public awareness initiatives through the Governor’s social media platforms, videos and other communication channels and promote wider participation in the Nikshay Mitra initiative.
It was decided that Lok Bhavan will organise a CSR Conclave to mobilise greater corporate participation in TB elimination. The Governor has also expressed his desire to contribute as a Nikshay Mitra and adopt TB patients, with a ceremonial programme proposed in September 2026.
The meeting further discussed strengthening TB identification and treatment in correctional facilities, expanding the initiative across higher educational institutions, wider adoption of the TB Mukt Bharat mobile application, and addressing operational requirements relating to hand-held X-ray machines and the Intermediate Reference Laboratory, Guwahati.
It was also decided in the meeting that NSS, NCC, Mera Yuva Bharat to actively engage in spreading TB awareness and removing the stigma associated with the TB positives so that early detection of TB patients and post treatment and recovery of the TB patients are fully integrated as normal individuals.
The Governor also conveyed through the Commissioner and Secretary that all students and faculties of the Higher Educational institutions of Assam will be mobilised for saturation coverage of TB testing and also for extension services to the population in the areas surrounding the institutions.
The meeting underscored the need for coordinated and sustained efforts involving government departments, elected representatives, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, corporate entities, civil society and citizens to achieve the goal of a TB-Mukt Assam and a TB-Mukt Bharat.
The meeting was attended by Joint Secretary Governor’s Secretariat Arindam Barua along with senior officials from the National Health Mission, Assam State AIDS Control Society, National TB Elimination Programme, Directorate of Health Services, GOI-WHO and the Intermediate Reference Laboratory, Guwahati, besides officers of Lok Bhavan, Assam.