Content:

1.   India’s 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign

2.   Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture

India’s 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign

Context : On December 7, 2024 Ministry of Health launched the “100-day TB elimination campaign” to accelerate TB elimination efforts .

Relevance:GS 2(Health)

Objectives

• Accelerate TB Elimination by 2025 (ahead of the global SDG goal of 2030).

Focus on:

• Improved case detection

• Reduced diagnostic delays

• Enhanced treatment outcomes for vulnerable populations

Scope of Campaign

• Coverage: 347 districts in 33 states and UTs

• Aligned with:
  • National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP)

• National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB Elimination (2017–2025)

Achievements Under NTEP (2015–2023)

• Reduction in TB Incidence:
  • From 237 per 100,000 (2015) to 195 per 100,000 (2023)

• Decline: 17.7%

• Decline in TB-Related Deaths:
  • From 28 per lakh population (2015) to 22 per lakh population (2023)

• Decline: 21.4%

• Diagnostics in 2023:
  • 1.89 crore sputum smear tests

• 68.3 lakh nucleic acid amplification tests

• Expansion of TB Preventive Treatment (TPT): Beneficiaries increased to 15 lakh.

Strategic Interventions

• Case Detection and Diagnostics:
  • Target high-burden and vulnerable populations.

• Use Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs for grassroots-level access.

• Treatment and Support:
  • Emphasis on shorter oral regimens for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).

• Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana:
  • ₹2,781 crores disbursed for nutritional support to 1 crore beneficiaries.

• Integration of PMTBMBA for comprehensive care of household contacts.

• Community Engagement:
  • Over 1.5 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras involved in awareness campaigns.

• Engagement of ASHA workers, TB champions, and caregivers under the Ni-kshay SAATHI model.

• Integrated Care:
  • Focus on co-morbidities

• Malnutrition, Diabetes, HIV, Substance Abuse

India’s International Commitment

•  Aligned with UN SDGs: End TB by 2025.

• Supports Gandhinagar Declaration (2023): Regional collaboration for TB elimination.

Way Forward

• Enhanced Infrastructure: Leverage existing health systems for diagnostics and treatment.

• Continued Political Will: Strengthen policy support for TB-free India.

• Community-Centric Approach: Sustain engagement with local leaders and stakeholders.

 Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture

Climate change threatens agriculture by disrupting productivity, livelihoods, and food security .

Relevance: GS 3 (Environment)

 Challenges :

• Climate change significantly affects agriculture, including crops, livestock, horticulture, and fisheries.

• Extreme weather conditions like droughts, floods, heatwaves, and frost are major concerns.

Policy Framework:

• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Initiated in 2008 to develop strategies for ecological sustainability and adaptation.

• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Focuses on enhancing climate resilience in agriculture.

National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA):

• Flagship project by ICAR studying climate impacts on agriculture and promoting climate-resilient technologies.

Outcomes:

• 2593 new crop varieties released (2014-2024), 2177 stress-tolerant.

• District-level vulnerability assessment for 651 agricultural districts.

• Identification of 310 vulnerable districts, including 109 as “very high” and 201 as “highly” vulnerable.

• Preparation of District Agriculture Contingency Plans (DACPs).

• Initiation of 448 Climate Resilient Villages (CRVs) in 151 districts across 28 states/UTs.

Capacity Building for Farmers:

• Awareness and training programs on climate-resilient practices.

• Demonstration of location-specific technologies in CRVs.

 Key Government Schemes Under NMSA:

• Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): Micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler) to improve water efficiency.

• Rainfed Area Development (RAD): Integrated Farming System (IFS) approach to enhance productivity and reduce climate risks.

• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): Focused on climate-resilient horticulture.

• National Bamboo Mission & Agroforestry: Promote sustainable farming practices.

 Risk Mitigation and Insurance:

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Comprehensive insurance against crop failures due to natural calamities.

• Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS): Offers financial support for adverse weather-related losses.