Haryana has reached a significant milestone in its public health journey. Approximately 35 per cent of the state’s gram panchayats are now eligible for certification under the TB Mukt Panchayat initiative. This progress marks a substantial leap from just 9 per cent in 2023. Consequently, the state is demonstrating strong momentum toward the national goal of tuberculosis elimination. Understanding population health management, often involving public health initiatives like this, is crucial for healthcare professionals, and many of our Family Medicine Speciality Courses cover preventative strategies.
Progress of the TB Mukt Panchayat Initiative
Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary of the health department, announced that 2,157 panchayats have qualified for the certification in 2025. This figure represents a sharp increase from 574 certifications in 2023. Additionally, the quality of achievements has improved over time. In the first year, all certified panchayats fell into the bronze category. However, by 2025, many have advanced to silver and gold status. Specifically, 211 panchayats earned gold, while 646 achieved silver and 1,300 secured bronze. Therefore, the grassroots participation in the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is yielding tangible results.
Verification and Indicators for Success
The certification process relies on a rigorous three-tier structure to ensure credibility. For example, a panchayat must maintain its status for three consecutive years to earn gold. Furthermore, authorities use six specific indicators to validate claims. A multi-departmental team, including civil surgeons and development officers, verifies these metrics. These teams often include officials from other districts to maintain objectivity. Therefore, the certification reflects a genuine reduction in the disease burden at the local level. Moreover, the certificates are issued annually on World TB Day by the deputy commissioner with a one-year validity period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the eligibility criteria for the different certification levels?
Panchayats earn bronze for one year of TB-free status, silver for two consecutive years, and gold for maintaining the status for three consecutive years.
Q2: Who verifies the claims made by the panchayats?
Verification involves the district development and Panchayati Raj officer, the civil surgeon, and a deputy civil surgeon from a different district to ensure integrity and lending credibility to the programme. Developing strong internal verification protocols is key, much like ensuring safe prescribing practices within clinical settings.
References
- 35% of panchayats in Haryana declared TB-free in 2025, up from 9% in 2023 – ETHealthworld
- National TB Elimination Programme – Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
- Operational Guidelines: TB Mukt Panchayat Initiative – National Health Mission.
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