SHIMLA: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar called upon the industrialists to join hands to make Himachal Pradesh a TB-free State by 2024.

CII Himachal Pradesh organized an interactive session of  Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Governor of Himachal Pradesh with the Industry fraternity of the state.

The main objective of the interaction was to request the Industry members to step up and catalyze the support in eradicating TB from the country by adopting TB-affected patients.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is implementing an ambitious National Strategic Plan with the goal to achieve SDG End TB targets by 2025.

The challenge of tuberculosis requires a multi-sectoral response to address the social determinants like nutritional support, living and working conditions, and an increase in access to diagnostic and treatment services.

“CII stands committed to supporting this initiative of Government in eradicating the TB from this country as TB is a national Burden and TB usually affects the most economically productive age group of society resulting in a significant loss of working days and pushing TB patients further into the vortex of poverty,” said Mr Subodh Gupta, Chairman of CII Himachal Pradesh.

Microtek company in which he is Managing Director would provide Rupees One Cr for the TB eradication campaign in the State in the coming two years.

Mr Gupta thanked other member associations of the state like BBNIA, PIA and NIA for extending their support for this noble cause.

He said that along with economic development, they should also come forward and contribute to this cause also.

He said that the issue of TB eradication was related to social health. Prime Minister has implemented various activities related to health in which every person should ensure his participation, he added.  

Gupta said today TB has been eradicated in most countries of the world but India still has a large number of such patients.

That is why the Prime Minister has set a target of making the country TB-free by the year 2024.

Appreciating the efforts of the State Government, he said that the State Government has set a target to be free from it by the year 2023.

He said that if TB patients were adopted for treatment, then surely we could easily achieve this goal.

“Industry has always come forward passionately for any national cause in the past and industry would stand shoulder to shoulder this time also and already many industry members have given their commitments to support TB-affected patients,” said Mr Gagan Kapoor, Vice Chairman of CII Himachal Pradesh.

Apart from supporting this noble cause during the interaction Mr Rajender Guleria, Past Chairman, CII Himachal Pradesh also raised some of the key issues in the state before the Governor such as Making industrial areas of the state Livable, strengthening the infrastructure in the state and improving the connectivity.