CM Sai Urges Pulse Polio Drive for Every Child Under 5
Synopsis
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on 28 June 2026 appealed to families to ensure every child aged 0-5 receives polio drops under the National Pulse Polio Campaign, calling it the strongest protection for a child's future and a step toward a polio-free Chhattisgarh and India.
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai issued a public appeal on 28 June 2026 urging participation in the National Pulse Polio Campaign .
The campaign targets every child between 0 and 5 years of age for oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops.
He described the two drops as 'the strongest protection' for a child's healthy and bright future, not merely medicine.
India has been polio-free since 2014 , but annual immunisation rounds continue to prevent re-importation of the virus.
The appeal invokes both a polio-free Chhattisgarh and a polio-free India as the shared goal of collective citizen participation.
ASHA workers and health volunteers across Chhattisgarh's 33 districts are conducting booth-day and door-to-door outreach to maximise coverage.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday, 28 June 2026 called on families across the state to participate in the National Pulse Polio Campaign, urging that every child between 0 and 5 years of age be administered the polio vaccine without fail.
Context
Posting in Hindi on X, CM Sai framed the appeal as a collective social responsibility, writing: 'हर बच्चे की मुस्कान सुरक्षित रहे, हर बचपन स्वस्थ और खुशहाल रहे, यही हमारी सबसे बड़ी जिम्मेदारी है' ('Let every child's smile remain protected, let every childhood be healthy and happy — this is our greatest responsibility'). He described the two drops of polio vaccine not merely as medicine, but as 'the strongest protection for a healthy, safe, and bright future.'
The Chief Minister specifically called on citizens to fulfil their duty toward family, neighbourhood, and society at large, framing participation in the drive as a 'jan abhiyan' — a people's campaign. He signed off with the campaign's signature phrase: 'Do boond zindagi ki' ('Two drops of life').
Policy Backdrop
The National Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, administered through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, aimed at achieving and sustaining a polio-free status across the country. India was officially certified polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014, but annual immunisation rounds continue to prevent re-importation of the wild poliovirus, particularly given the disease's continued presence in neighbouring countries.
Under the programme, oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops are administered at designated booths, health centres, and through mobile teams on fixed campaign days. The target group — children from birth to 5 years — is reached through a combination of booth-based and door-to-door outreach, ensuring no child is missed, including in remote tribal and forest areas that characterise much of Chhattisgarh's geography.
Stakeholders and Impact
Chhattisgarh presents distinct public health challenges owing to its large Scheduled Tribe (ST) population, dispersed rural habitations, and historically variable healthcare access in districts such as Bastar, Surguja, and Korba. Sustaining high immunisation coverage in these regions is critical to maintaining the country's polio-free certification.
The Chief Minister's public appeal is directed at parents, community leaders, and local volunteers who serve as the last-mile link in the campaign's delivery chain. By invoking the goal of a 'polio-free Chhattisgarh and polio-free India,' the post aligns state-level mobilisation with the national health objective, reinforcing the message that individual participation carries collective consequence.
What's Next
With the campaign underway, health workers and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) volunteers across Chhattisgarh's 33 districts are expected to conduct booth-day sessions and follow-up door-to-door rounds to cover children who may have been missed. High coverage in the current round will be essential to sustaining the state's contribution to India's broader polio eradication commitment. Continued political messaging from senior leaders like CM Sai typically reinforces community compliance and helps health workers gain household access in hesitant communities.
Point of View
Particularly in hesitant or hard-to-reach populations. The framing of the two drops as a civic duty rather than a medical procedure is deliberate: it shifts the narrative from individual choice to collective responsibility, a proven communication strategy in India's immunisation outreach. Chhattisgarh's tribal belt remains a perennial challenge for health administrators, and high-visibility messaging from the CM's office can meaningfully support ground-level workers. This post also signals the state government's alignment with the Centre's sustained commitment to maintaining India's polio-free status ahead of international health reviews.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Pulse Polio Campaign in India?
The National Pulse Polio Campaign is a Government of India programme under which oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops are administered to all children aged 0 to 5 years on designated immunisation days to sustain India's polio-free status, which was certified by the WHO in 2014.
Why did Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai appeal for the polio drive?
CM Vishnu Deo Sai urged citizens on 28 June 2026 to ensure every child under 5 receives polio drops, framing it as a social responsibility and a step toward a polio-free Chhattisgarh and India.
Who should receive polio drops during the Pulse Polio Campaign?
Every child from birth up to 5 years of age should receive two drops of the oral polio vaccine during the National Pulse Polio Campaign, regardless of previous vaccination history.
Is India still at risk of polio despite being declared polio-free?
Yes, while India has been polio-free since 2014, the risk of re-importation from countries where the wild poliovirus still circulates makes annual immunisation rounds essential to protect children.
How can parents participate in the Pulse Polio drive in Chhattisgarh?
Parents can visit designated polio booths at health centres or schools on campaign day, or await mobile health teams and ASHA workers who conduct door-to-door rounds across all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh.
