Agartala: Mar 13. As many as 97 Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Village Committees (VCs) in North Tripura were declared TB-free under the TB Mukt Panchayat initiative for 2025 and were felicitated at a programme organised by the District Health and Family Welfare Society, North Tripura on Friday.
The felicitation programme titled “Felicitation Programme of GP-VC under TB Mukt Panchayat 2025” was held at Swami Vivekananda Sardha Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Dharmanagar at 12 noon. Panchayats and Village Committees that met the prescribed criteria under the TB-free campaign were honoured during the event.
According to officials, 46 Panchayats received Gold awards for maintaining TB-free status for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025. Twenty-five Panchayats received Silver awards for maintaining the status in 2024 and 2025, while 26 Panchayats received Bronze awards for achieving the TB-free status in 2025.
The awardees were presented with Mahatma Gandhi statue trophies in gold, silver and bronze colours, along with certificates as per their respective categories.
The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Among those present were North Tripura Zilla Sabhadhipati Aparna Debnath, Vice-Sabhadhipati Bhabatosh Das, Yubarajnagar Block Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Aparna Sinha Debnath, Medical Officer Dr Dipak Haldar, along with GP and VC heads, Community Health Officers (CHOs), MPWs and other health workers.
Speaking on the occasion, District TB Officer Dr Soumya Kanti Sinha said that family members and close contacts of TB patients remain at high risk of infection and should take TB Preventive Therapy (TPT), a three- to six-month course of medication that significantly reduces the chances of developing tuberculosis.
He also urged the public to support TB patients and participate in the national TB elimination effort by coming forward as Nikshay Mitras and by spreading awareness about preventive treatment and early detection.
