An Assessment of the "TB Mukt Gram Panchayat" Initiative in Northeastern Madhya Pradesh, India.

INTRODUCTION: After more than 50 years of control activities directed towards tuberculosis (TB), it is still a severe health crisis in India. India has committed to achieving the end TB target by 2025. To monitor the progress of TB elimination in India, the Government of India implemented a decentralised plan to achieve the goal of TB elimination at the country level. Every village should reach TB-free status. For this, the TB Mukt Gram Panchayat (TB-free village) initiative is presently being promoted. For these substantial efforts in ending TB in India, these efforts need to be measured and validated to declare gram panchayats (villages) TB mukt (TB-free). This research paper explains the implementation process for the validation of TB mukt panchayats, with challenges faced in the process. METHODOLOGY: We evaluated the process of declaring panchayats TB-free in the Satna and Maihar districts over the past three years. In 2024, seven and one gram panchayats were nominated from the Satna and Maihar districts, respectively; in 2025, 14 and 11 gram panchayats were nominated, respectively; and in 2026, 162 and 117 gram panchayats were nominated from the Satna and Maihar districts, respectively. The assessment process was conducted by a district-level team that was formed to verify the six indicators and the TB-free claim in the 1st quarter of every year. The team gathered, triangulated, and collated data from various sources, and the findings were evaluated. Certificates for "TB Mukt Panchayat" with one-year validity and a small statue of Mahatma Gandhi are to be awarded to qualified gram panchayats. RESULTS: While verifying the submitted claims, the claim success rate in the Satna district was 83.33% in 2024, 85.72% in 2025, and 77.78% in 2026. In Maihar district, no gram panchayats were verified against the claim of a TB-free gram panchayat in 2024. In 2025 and 2026, claim success rates of 45.45% and 80.34%, respectively, were observed. From all six indicators, the TB notification rate was the most common indicator that hindered getting TB-free panchayat ​​​​​​status. CONCLUSION: As this study indicates that progress has occurred over the years across all six indicators used to declare gram panchayats TB-free, public health response and participation have increased gradually over the past three years, and gram panchayats have become more eager to claim TB-free status, which will help India eliminate TB. This study will help the programme evaluators to assess the TB-free gram panchayat status in the future.