Lok Sabha Speaker Birla Urges MPs to Make ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ a National Movement

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 15th Dec. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called upon Members of Parliament to turn the ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ and ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ campaigns into a ‘Jan-Andolan’ (mass movement) to achieve the ambitious target of a Tuberculosis-free India by 2025.

Speaking at the inauguration of a friendly cricket match organized to raise awareness about these campaigns at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, Birla emphasized the crucial role of public representatives in promoting health initiatives and engaging communities.

Highlighting the necessity of eradicating TB and drug addiction for building a healthy society, Shri Birla encouraged MPs to foster a spirit of “healthy competition” among their constituencies to achieve the shared goal of a TB-free India.

“Mass awareness and public participation are key to our success in the fight against Tuberculosis and Drug Addiction,” said Birla, noting the significant challenges posed by TB, especially to impoverished communities.

The Speaker lauded India’s proactive approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, which sets the ambitious goal of eliminating TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030 established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Birla underlined the role of parliamentarians in leveraging their influence to support government initiatives, from disease prevention to post-illness care, and urged them to engage with the democratic system at all levels—from Panchayats to Parliament—to achieve the nation’s health objectives.

Friendly Cricket Match for Awareness
The 20-over cricket match, conceptualized by MP and former Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, saw the Lok Sabha Speaker XI led by Shri Thakur triumph over the Rajya Sabha Chairman XI captained by Kiren Rijiju. The Lok Sabha team won by 73 runs, with Anurag Singh Thakur scoring an unbeaten 111 runs and being named Man of the Match.

This initiative underscored the potential of sports to create awareness and mobilize action against TB and drug addiction. Birla applauded the participation and reiterated that MPs, as representatives of 1.4 billion Indians, bear a collective responsibility to ensure India meets its health and social welfare goals.

With the combined efforts of elected representatives and the public, Birla expressed confidence in India’s ability to overcome the challenges posed by TB and drug addiction, making the vision of ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ and ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ a reality.