New Delhi, The Centre will launch Joint Squad for Health teams across 55 districts in 11 states to strengthen youth-led community mobilisation for tuberculosis elimination, the Union Health ministry said on Wednesday.
In 2025, 67,933 panchayats across 697 districts were recognised as TB free, reflecting the collective efforts of health workers, elected representatives, community members and volunteers in advancing the national TB elimination agenda. The Joint Squad for Health teams are envisaged as a structured mechanism to channel the energy and reach of India’s youth into an organised action for TB elimination, with the first phase focusing on engagement at the block, ward and community levels. The JOSH teams initiative builds on the growing emphasis on community participation and Jan Bhagidari as important pillars of India’s TB elimination efforts, the statement stated.
The initiative, being jointly undertaken by the Health Ministry, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Ministry of Defence, will bring together Class-I officers, MY Bharat volunteers and NCC cadets to drive community-level engagement against TB, the statement said. “The launch of JOSH teams marks another important step in the government’s efforts to build a people-centred, participatory and community-driven response to TB, with coordinated action involving ministries, states and Union Territories, health workers, elected representatives, youth and citizens,” the ministry said.
