In a significant push to eradicate tuberculosis from India, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda convened a high-level meeting with Members of Parliament from Bihar on Thursday. The session, held at the extended Parliament House annexe in New Delhi, is part of an intensified national outreach under the flagship 'TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'.
Cross-Party Unity for a TB-Free India
The engagement, titled 'Parliamentarians Championing a TB-Mukt Bharat', saw Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from Bihar setting aside political differences to forge a unified front against the disease. This follows similar successful consultations with MPs from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra earlier this week, with more state-level meetings planned in the coming weeks.
The meeting was attended by several Union Ministers from Bihar, including:
- Giriraj Singh, Minister of Textiles
- Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and Panchayati Raj
- Ram Nath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Minister of State for Jal Shakti
- Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State for Coal and Mines
India's Remarkable Progress and Bihar's Crucial Role
Addressing the parliamentarians, Minister Nadda highlighted India's substantial achievements in the fight against TB. He revealed that between 2015 and 2024, the country recorded a 21% decline in TB incidence, a rate almost double the global average. Furthermore, India has achieved an impressive 90% treatment success rate, surpassing worldwide benchmarks.
Nadda emphasized that Bihar's own significant advancements in community screening, outreach, and patient support systems are instrumental to the national mission. "Bihar's significant advancements in screening, community-level outreach, and patient support will play a pivotal role in further strengthening India's national progress," he stated.
A Call for Jan Andolan and Parliamentary Leadership
The Health Minister urged the MPs to spearhead a 'Jan Andolan' or people's movement in their constituencies. Their leadership is critical for:
- Raising awareness and reducing the stigma associated with TB.
- Promoting early detection through initiatives like Ni-kshay Shivirs and community-based screening camps.
- Strengthening oversight of quality TB services at the district and block levels.
Nadda also underscored the vital role of Ni-kshay Mitras (community caregivers) in providing nutritional, psychosocial, and livelihood support to patients, calling for their expansion.
"TB Mukt Bharat is not just a health initiative but a people-led movement, powered by collective will and proactive political stewardship," Nadda affirmed.
Strategic Roadmap and MP's Commitment
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava outlined the evolving national strategy, which includes scaling up AI-enabled diagnostics, intensifying screening efforts, and enhancing patient support mechanisms. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Health Mission, presented the achievements under the Abhiyan and identified areas where parliamentary intervention could bolster Bihar's response.
In response, MPs from Bihar unanimously reiterated their commitment to ensuring that awareness campaigns, quality diagnostics, and patient-centric care reach the grassroots. They pledged to energize their communities to actively participate in this nationwide elimination drive, recognizing their unique position to bridge policy and implementation.
This high-level interaction marks a crucial step in mobilizing India's political machinery at the state level, transforming the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan from a government program into a true societal mission.
