The Union Health Ministry, in partnership with the Ministries of Youth Affairs and Sports and Defence, is launching a nationwide youth-focused mobilisation programme to support India’s efforts to eliminate tuberculosis.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda will inaugurate the programme on October 8 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Under the first phase, Joint Squad for Health (JOSH) teams will be deployed across 55 districts in 11 states. The teams will comprise Class-I officers, Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) volunteers and NCC cadets.
The teams will engage with communities at the block, ward and local levels, focusing on awareness about TB symptoms, prevention, early diagnosis and adherence to treatment. They will also work to counter misinformation and misconceptions surrounding TB.
The launch will include new information, education and communication (IEC) materials under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. The ministry will also introduce Khushi Avatar, an AI-powered chatbot designed to strengthen public awareness and encourage community participation in TB elimination efforts.
The Health Ministry highlighted community participation as a key component of India’s TB elimination strategy. It said 67,933 panchayats across 697 districts were recognised as TB Mukt in 2025.