Maharashtra's TB Patients Face Financial Crisis as Nikshay Poshan Yojana Funds Dry Up
A severe financial crisis in Maharashtra's state treasury has left thousands of tuberculosis patients without the crucial financial assistance promised under the government's nutritional support scheme. Recent data reveals alarming gaps in the implementation of the Nikshay Poshan Yojana across the state, with urban centers bearing the brunt of this funding shortfall.
Alarming Disparity in Beneficiary Payments
According to official state health department statistics, only 32.4% of registered beneficiaries received their entitled financial support in 2025 under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana. This translates to a mere 70,664 patients out of 2.18 lakh notified TB cases across Maharashtra actually receiving the promised assistance. The situation becomes even more concerning when examining specific urban districts that shoulder the highest disease burden.
Mumbai, which carries the state's highest TB burden with 48,964 eligible beneficiaries, witnessed only 9,800 patients (approximately 20%) receiving their benefits. Similarly, Pune district, with 18,000 eligible patients, managed to provide assistance to only 5,468 beneficiaries. These figures highlight a systemic failure in delivering essential nutritional support to vulnerable populations battling tuberculosis.
Understanding the Nikshay Poshan Yojana
Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Nikshay Poshan Yojana represents a critical component of India's tuberculosis elimination strategy. The scheme provides monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 to every notified TB patient for nutritional support during their treatment period. Eligibility extends to all patients registered on the Nikshay portal on or after April 1, 2018, making it a comprehensive support mechanism for those undergoing TB treatment.
Official Response and Ongoing Challenges
Rajratna Waghmare, joint director of state health services, acknowledged the payment delays while emphasizing that essential clinical care continues uninterrupted. "Due to budget constraints, we were unable to provide additional monetary support to all patients. However, the state continues to provide free medicines throughout the treatment phase, along with transportation and diagnostic coverage," he stated.
Waghmare further explained that the department supplements this support with food baskets to ensure patients receive proper nutrition and assured that remaining funds would be dispersed soon. However, ground-level officials paint a more concerning picture of the funding crisis.
Prashant Bothe, TB officer for Pune Municipal Corporation, detailed the mid-year funding halt that crippled the scheme's implementation. "We received some budget from the state in the initial months of 2025; however, the flow of funds stopped after that, making it impossible to continue payments as per the scheme," he revealed.
Broader Implications for Public Health
This funding crisis raises serious questions about Maharashtra's commitment to tuberculosis elimination targets. Nutritional support forms a crucial component of TB treatment, directly impacting recovery rates and treatment adherence. The current situation potentially jeopardizes years of progress in TB management and could lead to increased treatment default rates among economically vulnerable patients.
The disparity between urban and rural implementation also warrants examination, as metropolitan areas with higher living costs face particular challenges when nutritional support systems fail. As Maharashtra grapples with this funding shortfall, thousands of TB patients continue their treatment without the financial safety net promised by the government's flagship nutritional support program.
