A file photo of NTEP Nagaland officials at their kiosk
during the sixth session of the 14th NLA in Kohima. (EM Images)
- KOHIMA — A total
of 21 Ni-Kshay Mitras were registered during the sixth session of the 14th
Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) held from March 3 to the 8th with a recess
on March 5.
- An official from the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP),
Nagaland, informed Eastern Mirror on the last day of the session that the newly
registered Ni-Kshay Mitras included the NLA Speaker, 17 members of the
Legislative Assembly (MLA) and three administrative head of departments (AHoD).
- It may be mentioned here that on March 7, NLA Speaker
Sharingain Longkumer had announced the objectives of the Ni-Kshay Mitra
initiative before the resumption of business. He explained that under the
campaign, community members could become Ni-Kshay Mitra supporters/ donors to provide
additional assistance to TB patients.
- Longkumer further shared that he had personally registered
as Ni-Kshay Mitra to show his support and urged all members to take part in the
mission.
- Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has set an ambitious
target of eliminating TB in India by 2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) timeline. In line with this, the Ni-Kshay Mitra
initiative was launched under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in
September 2022.
- Ni-Kshay Mitra is a community-driven programme that
encourages individuals, non-governmental organisations, corporations and other
stakeholders to adopt TB patients and provide them with comprehensive support
including nutritional, diagnostic and vocational assistance.
- Nagaland's commitment to eradicating TB by 2025 has been
reinforced through the 100-day intensified campaign on TB elimination, which
was launched on December 7, 2024. Various camps and outreach programmes have
been conducted as part of the initiative.
- Ni-Kshay Mitra could be individuals, NGOs, cooperatives,
faith-based organisations or others, who wish to support TB patients
nutritionally during treatment.
