Srinagar, July 8: In a major step towards eliminating tuberculosis (TB) from the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted Block-Level Monitoring Committees to strengthen the implementation of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan across all districts. The decision has been issued through Government Order No. 1181-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated July 7, 2026.
According to the order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), each committee will be headed by a Class-I Officer, designated as the Block Nodal Officer for TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, who will be nominated by the concerned Deputy Commissioner. The Block Medical Officer will serve as the Member Secretary, while the Block Development Officer/Child Development & Protection Officer, representatives from NCC, MY Bharat volunteers, and field health functionaries under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) will serve as members.
The government has assigned the committees a comprehensive mandate to ensure 100 percent screening of the population through X-ray-based camps in 1,518 identified high-risk villages, wards, and congregate settings. The committees will also ensure universal use of the TB Mukt Bharat App and Khushi Chatbot, conduct 100 percent upfront NAAT testing for all presumptive TB cases, provide differentiated care to TB patients, and ensure complete TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) coverage for all eligible individuals after ruling out active TB.
Besides healthcare interventions, the committees have been tasked with preparing micro-plans, identifying implementation gaps at the village and ward levels, mobilising community participation through NCC cadets and MY Bharat volunteers, creating awareness, facilitating inter-departmental convergence, conducting regular field visits, submitting progress reports to the State Tuberculosis Officers through District TB Officers, and promptly addressing operational challenges at the block and district levels.
The order has been issued by Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, M. Raju (IAS) and circulated to all Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and other concerned authorities for immediate implementation.(KNC)
