Purnima (name changed), a 48-year-old homemaker from a small village in Assam, had been managing anemia with appropriate medication and believed she was otherwise in good health. She kept up with her daily routine — caring for her family, handling household chores, and staying active.
When she heard about a free tuberculosis (TB) screening camp in her village, she saw little reason to attend. She had no symptoms — no cough, no fever, no fatigue. What could she possibly have to worry about?
Despite her doubts, Purnima decided to go. That single decision changed everything. At the camp, her test results revealed she had TB. She had no symptoms but was harbouring the TB bacteria without showing any classical signs of illness. If she had skipped the screening, as she nearly did, her TB would have remained undiagnosed and untreated, posing a risk to both her health and those around her.
Thanks to the proactive approach of the government to screen and test asymptomatic vulnerable population for TB, she was initiated on treatment in time, and is now receiving social support to complete the treatment, including the monthly nutritional support of ₹1,000 into her bank account.
Purnima’s story is just one example of how the newly launched 100-Day Intensified TB Elimination Campaign is transforming TB care in India. Spearheaded by the Prime Minister, this programme is set to revolutionise TB care, dramatically reducing both mortality and incidence across 347 campaign districts. This is not just another initiative; it is a complete transformation of our TB strategy, powered by cutting-edge tools and the power of community participation.
This campaign isn’t just about policy — it’s about a movement, a Jan Andolan, driven by the collective energy of every citizen in India.
A unified, Jan Bhagidari approach to end TB
The 100-day campaign marks the moment when India’s political will and collaborative governance come together to ignite a national mission. Over 22 ministries ranging from Railways to Education are aligning resources and efforts, ensuring that TB elimination is a cross-sector priority. Public outreach, mass screenings, and innovative strategies spearheaded by these ministries are amplifying the campaign’s impact.
Elected representatives, from Members of Parliament to local leaders, after strategic sensitisation exercises taken at different levels, are now mobilizing communities like never before. Their active involvement has ensured that TB awareness and services reach even the remotest corners of the country.
With over 27,000 elected representatives leading the charge, political commitment is setting a powerful example for nationwide action.
At the grassroots level, community participation is the fulcrum of this campaign. ASHA workers, TB champions, and civil society organisations are ensuring that screening, treatment, and education reach vulnerable communities that might otherwise be left behind. This is the power of Jan Bhaagidari — a people-powered revolution in action.
Innovating diagnostics to Identify TB early
This campaign is defined by cutting-edge innovation. To tackle the challenge of TB head-on, we are using high-sensitivity screening and diagnostic tools in 455 campaign districts. This isn’t just about diagnosing patients who show symptoms; it’s about finding those hidden cases who would otherwise remain undetected by using Chest X-rays, enhanced with AI, an effective method for screening individuals who may have TB but may not have the classical symptoms of TB .
In fact, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research’s survey, around 42 per cent of TB patients show no symptoms — without proactive screening, they would remain invisible, undetected and at a huge risk to life.
The Active Case Finding (ACF) model is at the core of this strategy. Door-to-door screenings, powered by 836 Ni-kshay Vahans equipped with ultra portable X-ray machines and state of art molecular diagnostic tools (NAAT), are ensuring that no case goes unnoticed.
Since the campaign’s launch in December 7, 2024, we’ve already screened over 11 crore vulnerable individuals and notified over 3 lakh cases among these vulnerable individuals.
In Maharashtra, for example, the State leadership has inaugurated 80 new portable X-ray machines, enhancing diagnostic capacity even further.
Sustaining the momentum beyond 100 Days
As we move forward, we continue investing in advanced diagnostic technologies, especially point-of-care diagnostics, which bring testing closer to communities and make TB care more accessible.
Moreover, the future of TB elimination depends on sustaining community ownership. When citizens play an active role in raising awareness, driving screenings, and supporting treatment adherence, the campaign becomes unstoppable.
Purnima’s journey is a testament to the power of proactive healthcare and the collective effort of a nation committed to eliminating TB. Her story highlights the importance of early detection by bringing diagnostics closer to communities.
As we move forward, the story of Purnima and countless others will serve as a reminder of what can be achieved when we come together with purpose and resolve. The 100-Day TB Campaign is not just a program; it is Purnima’s story — and yours — a movement for a healthier tomorrow.
The writer is Member, NITI Aayog. Views expressed are personal
