Nikshay Poshan Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

• India, the most populated nation in the world, tops the chart of highest number of TB patients in the world.
• According to WHO (World Health Organization) 2023 report, from the total world TB cases 27% cases are reported in India alone.
• In every three minutes two people in India die due to this infectious disease.
• However, the cases registered in the previous years keep on declining along with the mortality rates.
• This declining success was achieved through a scheme introduced by the central government called "Nikshay Poshan Yojana".
• The scheme name "NI-KSHAY" means (NI=End, Kshay=TB), reflecting the goal of the scheme.
• The announced scheme is also known as "Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan".
• The primary objective of the scheme is to make India Tuberculosis free by providing these patients nutritional support during their treatment.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced this scheme with an aim to provide financial support to TB patients.
• The Nikshay Poshan Scheme promises to provide a monthly financial assistance of Rs 500/-.
• The assistance under the scheme will be provided to each registered patient during the Anti-TB treatment process.
• Patients registered on or after 1 April 2018 are eligible for this scheme.
• Irrespective of age, caste and category Nikshay Poshan Yojana is open for all.
• The ministry of Health and Family Welfare Department is the nodal authority of the scheme to oversee it.
• The assistance provided under the scheme will be credited to the beneficiary account via DBT mode on the 7th of every month.
• Some states are also providing scheme benefits through in-Kind by providing food baskets to each patient.
• The food basket providing under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana shall not be less than Rs 500/-
• The governemnt also sets a target to make India Tuberculosis free by the end of 2025 which cannot be done alone.
• Under the scheme, individuals, NGOs, Cooperative societies, organizations and others can become 'Nikshay Mitras'.
• These Nikshay Mitras can adopt a minimum one consented TB patient during their treatment for maximum 6 months to provide necessary support.
• With these Mitras India can achieve the TB Mukt Bharat faster.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria that mostly affects our lungs and the worst part is it spreads through the air.
• TB is curable by taking some preventive measures and keeping our diet healthy.
• Through Nikshay Poshan Yojana, TB patients are getting important nutritional support which helps them to recover.

Scheme Benefits

• Under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana the TB Patient will receive : -
  • Either a monthly assistance of Rs 500/- or in-Kind.
  • Under in-Kind, beneficiaries will receive a food basket of Rs 500/-.
  • Assistance amount and in-Kind will be provided during the anti-TB treatment.
  • Incentive amount will be credited to the patient Aadhar linked bank account.
  • States providing incentive in-kind the total value of the food basket should not be less than Rs 500/- per month.

Eligibility Requirement

• Beneficiaries must meet the following eligibility criteria to receive the monthly assistance of Rs 500/- under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana : -
  • Applicants must be an Indian citizen.
  • Applicants must be a TB patient.
  • Existing patients getting TB treatment are also eligible.
  • Must be registered on the NIKSHAY Portal.

Required Documents

• Eligible beneficiaries must produce their following document to submit applications for Nikshay Poshan Yojana : -
  • Aadhaar Card.
  • Bank Passbook. (Aadhaar seeded)
  • Mobile Number.
  • Guardian/Parents bank details in case a TB patient does not have a bank account.

Steps to Apply

• Patients can register for the Nikshay Poshan Yojana Offline.
• For this, they need to visit the nearest government health care centre.
• To locate the nearest health care centre, applicants can also call the district and state TB officer numbers.
• Applicants need to provide every details required during the Nikshay Poshan Yojana form submission.
• Upon successful registration applicants will receive a confirmation message.
• The benefits of the scheme will be provided through the promised mode until the treatment is completed.

Relevant Links

• Nikshay Poshan Yojana Official Portal.
• Download Guidelines issued for Nikshay Poshan Yojana.
• Registration Link for Nikshay Mitra.

Contact Information

• Nikshay Poshan Yojana Helpline Number : - 1800116666
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana Email Helpdesk : - helpdesk.nikshay@rntcp.org
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana State TB Officer Contact Numbers.
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana District TB Officers Contact Numbers.
• Ministry of Health & family welfare
  Nirman Bhavan
  New Delhi - 110 011, India