Bhubaneswar, July 29: Odisha has emerged as one of the leading States in the country in implementing the Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative, a flagship community participation movement under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMBA), reaffirming the State's commitment towards achieving the goal of a TB-Mukt Odisha and contributing to the national vision of a TB-Mukt Bharat, said an official release.

According to the release, since the launch of the initiative, the State has successfully registered more than 21,000 Ni-kshay Mitras, making it one of the most vibrant community support networks under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).

Adding further momentum to the movement, over 15,000 youth volunteers, including My Bharat Volunteers, National Cadet Corps (NCC), and National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, have actively joined hands with the programme to support TB patients, promote awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen community engagement across the State.

The initiative has enabled more than 1.20 lakh tuberculosis patients to receive sustained nutritional and social support through adoption by Ni-kshay Mitras. As part of this support, over 3.90 lakh nutritional food baskets have been distributed to TB patients across Odisha, significantly contributing to improved nutritional status and treatment adherence.

Officials from the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), Odisha, have acknowledged the invaluable contribution of every Ni-kshay Mitra, volunteer, institution, and partner organization in strengthening patient-centredcare and fostering a compassionate ecosystem for people affected by tuberculosis.

The State TB Cell has appealed to more individuals, organizations, educational institutions, industries, and corporate houses to join the Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative and contribute towards eliminating tuberculosis from Odisha.

As one of the world's largest community participation movements for tuberculosis elimination, the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative stands as a powerful example of how collective responsibility, compassion, and community ownership can accelerate progress towards ending TB.