On Thursday, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda inaugurated the Joint Squad for Health (JOSH) teams under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. The initiative mobilises youth volunteers from the National Cadet Corps and MY Bharat to conduct household‑level outreach in 55 districts across 11 states and union territories, aiming to locate individuals with tuberculosis who are not yet in the health system.
Each JOSH team consists of five NCC cadets and five MY Bharat volunteers and operates under a designated Class‑I officer. The squads will work at block and ward levels to identify people showing TB symptoms, encourage testing, and provide support to ensure patients complete their treatment.
The minister highlighted that many people may live with TB without recognising symptoms and therefore remain outside formal care. He said, “Awareness is important, screening is important, but our responsibility does not end there,” stressing the need for diagnosis and completion of treatment.
The Centre also honoured 67,933 Panchayats in 697 districts that were declared TB‑Mukt in 2026. The JOSH programme is expected to expand to additional districts after volunteers are oriented and mobilised, and it is being implemented jointly by the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Defence.
