Tamil Nadu govt. honours 319 villages for becoming TB-free in Vellore, nearby districts

Tiruvannamalai Collector Vandhan Garg presents an award to a volunteer of the TB-free villages initiative at the Collectorate in Tiruvannamalai on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Health Department honoured village elders, volunteers, including NCC cadets, and health workers in 319 panchayats in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet and Tirupattur districts on Thursday for becoming ‘Tuberculosis (TB) Free Villages’ in 2025. Collector P.S. Leela Alex and Vandhana Garg of Vellore and Tiruvannamalai, respectively, honoured these individuals in these districts.

Health officials said that the achievement of TB-free village status is a part of implementation of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The identification of TB-free villages are being done after COVID-19 pandemic.

“The study found that high population density remains a major reason for the spread of TB in the district, as the infection can spread much faster in densely populated areas. Migration from big cities is another reason for its spread, especially in tribal areas like Jawadhu Hills, which have been less affected by TB,” said P. Ashok, Deputy Director of Health Services (DDHS), TB (Tiruvannamalai).