‘Volunteers’ pull out citing lack of incentives

ONLY 24 OF THE 120 NI-KSHAY MITRAS ENROLLED ON THE NI-KSHAY 2.0 PORTAL WERE ACTUALLY SUPPORTING A MEASLY 69 AGAINST 1,06,914 TB PATIENTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT IN THE STATE

The drop in the effective enrolment of “Ni-kshay Mitras”, or community support providers to ensure additional diagnostic, nutritional, and vocational support to patients of tuberculosis (TB) under treatment, has come as a setback to the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Ni-kshay 2.0, in Bihar, said government officials familiar with the matter.

Only 24 of the 120 Ni-kshay Mitras enrolled on the Ni-kshay 2.0 portal were actually supporting a measly 69 against 1,06,914 TB patients undergoing treatment in Bihar. This translates into only 0.06% when 84,360 (79%) TB patients under medication have consented to receive community support, as per government data till November 15.

As many as 66 individuals and NGOs opted out of the Central scheme within a couple of months of its launch by the President of India on September 9, after they realised that the programme sought voluntary donors to help in providing additional diagnostic, nutritional, and vocational support to TB patients under treatment, said officials quoted above.

“Most of the individuals and NGOs had enrolled as ‘Ni-kshay Mitra’ on the Ni-kshay 2.0 portal in anticipation of getting some financial support or incentive from the government for the work, but they lost interest as soon as they realised the government was seeking donors as part of community participation to help TB patients recover fast, and that they would not benefit from it,” said the official.

Firms and individuals are reluctant to support the programme due to lack of incentive. Many donors, including prospective ones, are demanding full income-tax exemption on the financial support to the programme, said the officials quoted above.

Md Danish Iqbal, a laboratory technician and proprietor of New National Diagnostic, a private diagnostic laboratory at Kawakol block in Nawada district, was among the seven ‘Ni-kshay Mitras’ in Bihar aiding 35 of the 69 TB patients receiving community support as on November 15. Some others, including the ITC, have now pledged support.

“I extend blood tests — complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), acidfast Bacillus (AFB) sputum tests — and digital chest X-ray free of cost to TB patients. I have done free tests of 45 TB patients so far,” said Iqbal, who enrolled as a ‘Ni-kshay Mitra’ on September 23.

It costs Iqbal ₹1,000 (approx) for all the four tests on each TB patient, he said.

“In addition, I also provides food packets, costing ₹400 per head during TB screening camp at the Kawakol block, where I have my diagnostic laboratory. The last such camp was held on November 3, in which 10 new TB patients were selected. Previously, I had tested 35 TB patients,” he said.

“I have pledged support to TB patients of my block through free diagnostic tests at my centre for three years,” added Iqbal.

The ITC, on November 15, announced to help 1,500 TB patients in Bihar’s Munger district by providing them nutrition support for six months under the scheme, said YP Singh, its manager, corporate affairs.

While launching the scheme in September, President Droupadi Murmu encouraged elected representatives, corporates, NGOs, and individuals to come forward as donors to help the patients complete their journey towards recovery.

Dr BK Mishra, Bihar’s additional director, health, and state TB officer, did not respond to calls and text message on his cellphone on Monday.

The Centre has set a target to eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global goal of 2030.