72 gram panchayats in Dharwad declared TB-free, up from 2 in 2023
Synopsis
Dharwad's leap from 2 to 72 TB-free gram panchayats in under two years — backed by 161 X-ray camps, an 88% treatment success rate, and 124% of its screening target met — is emerging as a district-level blueprint for India's TB elimination mission. The question now is whether Karnataka and the Centre can replicate this at scale before the national deadline.
Key Takeaways
72 gram panchayats in Dharwad district, Karnataka have been declared TB-free, up from just 2 in 2023 .
The district achieved an 88 per cent treatment success rate and screened 43,840 people between January and July 2026 — 124 per cent of its target.
161 X-ray camps were held over 130 days , covering more than 7,800 people .
Nutritional support is being provided to TB patients under the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative.
MPs from Karnataka and Kerala resolved to strengthen AI-based TB screening and indigenous research at a consultation meeting chaired by Union Health Minister J.P.
As many as 72 gram panchayats in Karnataka's Dharwad district have been declared tuberculosis (TB)-free, Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi announced on Wednesday, 12 August 2026. The milestone — up from just two TB-free gram panchayats in 2023 — was disclosed at a consultation meeting of MPs from Karnataka and Kerala on TB elimination, held in New Delhi in the presence of Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda.
Scale of Progress in Dharwad
Joshi, who also represents Dharwad as a Member of Parliament, said the district has achieved an 88 per cent treatment success rate. Intensive screening drove much of this improvement: 161 X-ray camps were organised over 130 days, covering more than 7,800 people.
Between January and July 2026, the district screened 43,840 people — achieving 124 per cent of its targeted screening figure. Joshi described this as evidence of the impact of sustained early detection and treatment protocols.
Support for Patients: Ni-kshay Mitra
Dharwad district is also providing nutritional support to TB patients through the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative, a Centre-backed programme designed to improve treatment outcomes and assist patients through recovery. Joshi said a broader people's movement has taken shape as part of the national TB elimination drive.
'Dharwad district is making significant progress towards becoming completely TB-free,' Joshi said, adding that the Centre and district administration remained committed to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'TB-free India'.
What the Consultation Meeting Resolved
The New Delhi meeting brought together MPs from Karnataka and Kerala to discuss accelerating TB elimination across both states. Participants resolved to strengthen efforts in indigenous research for TB treatment, AI-based screening, and improved access to modern treatment facilities for patients.
Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Anupriya Patel, and senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were among those present at the meeting.
National TB Elimination Context
India has set an ambitious target of eliminating TB by 2025 — five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal deadline of 2030. Dharwad's trajectory — from two to 72 TB-free gram panchayats in roughly two years — is being cited by officials as a replicable district-level model. Notably, this progress comes as several high-burden states continue to struggle with case detection and treatment adherence, making Dharwad's 124 per cent screening achievement particularly significant. Whether Karnataka can scale this model statewide remains the next critical test.
Point of View
But it must be read carefully. 'TB-free' status at the panchayat level typically reflects zero active notified cases within a period — not eradication — making sustained surveillance as important as the declaration itself. India's national TB elimination deadline has already slipped in ambition versus reality; district-level wins are necessary but not sufficient. The Ni-kshay Mitra nutritional support model and AI-based screening resolutions are the more durable signals here — if they scale, they address the structural gaps of under-detection and treatment dropout that have long frustrated national targets.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many gram panchayats in Dharwad have been declared TB-free?
As of 2025, 72 gram panchayats in Karnataka's Dharwad district have been declared TB-free. This is a sharp rise from just two TB-free gram panchayats in 2023, reflecting intensified screening and treatment efforts over the past two years.
What is India's target for TB elimination?
India has set a national target of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal deadline of 2030. Dharwad's progress is being cited as a model district-level approach toward that goal.
What is the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative?
Ni-kshay Mitra is a Centre-backed programme that provides nutritional support to TB patients to improve treatment outcomes and assist them through recovery. Dharwad district is actively implementing it as part of its TB elimination strategy.
What screening efforts drove Dharwad's TB-free progress?
Between January and July 2026, Dharwad screened 43,840 people, achieving 124 per cent of its targeted screening figure. The district also organised 161 X-ray camps over 130 days, covering more than 7,800 people.
What did the New Delhi consultation meeting on TB elimination decide?
MPs from Karnataka and Kerala, meeting in New Delhi in the presence of Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, resolved to strengthen indigenous research for TB treatment, expand AI-based screening, and improve access to modern treatment facilities for patients across both states.
