Awareness is Crucial for Triumph Against TB and Substance Abuse: Lok Sabha Speaker
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New Delhi, Dec 15 (NationPress) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday called upon the Members of Parliament to turn the ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ and ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ campaigns into a ‘Jan-Andolan’ and cultivate a spirit of healthy competition among themselves to liberate India from Tuberculosis (TB) by 2025.
During the inauguration of a friendly cricket match among MPs from various political parties, aimed at raising awareness for the ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ and ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ campaigns at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, Birla stated, “Broad awareness and community involvement are fundamental to our success in combating Tuberculosis (TB) and substance abuse.”
The Speaker underscored the significance of eradicating TB and drug addiction as essential for fostering a healthy society, invoking the spirit of ‘Healthy Competition’ where all parliamentary constituencies strive to become TB-free, thus contributing to the vision of a TB-free India.
Birla emphasized the duty of elected officials in the battle against TB. He remarked that public representatives should actively engage in social initiatives and government efforts focused on disease prevention, urging them to utilize their experiences in illness prevention and post-illness care.
Birla pointed out that Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that poses considerable challenges, especially for the underprivileged. He stressed the necessity for a national commitment to tackle these hurdles.
He acknowledged that the World Health Organization (WHO) has established a global target to eliminate TB by 2030, but under Prime Minister Modi, India has set a more ambitious goal of eradicating TB by 2025. Birla stated that to realize this objective, the collaboration of all MPs is vital, as they represent the 1.4 billion people of India. The Speaker encouraged them to work diligently to ensure India becomes TB-free by 2025.
Recognizing that the Parliament has raised the initiative to eradicate TB, Birla mentioned that it is the MPs' duty to further this cause. He asserted that India's democratic framework, from Panchayats to Parliament, comprising all elected representatives, must operate with unwavering determination to achieve this goal.
The 20-over friendly cricket match was an initiative by former Union Minister and MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, Anurag Singh Thakur, aimed at raising awareness for a TB-free and drug-free India. The Lok Sabha Speaker XI team was captained by Anurag Singh Thakur, while the Rajya Sabha Chairman XI was led by Kiren Rijiju. The Lok Sabha Speaker XI emerged victorious by 73 runs, with Anurag Singh Thakur named the Man of the Match for his outstanding unbeaten 111 runs.
