With tea garden areas of Assam identified as among vulnerable zones for TB cases, Tata Tea has come forward to develop its tea estates in the state as TB-free zones.

“The tea garden areas are among the most vulnerable zones. At REACH, we have developed an Employer-Led Model (ELM) under which the employer is encouraged to help eradicate this disease,” Arupjyoti Kalita of Resource Group for Education and Advocacy on Community Health (REACH), an NGO working on TB, said on June 7.

He was speaking a roundtable for journalists on reporting on TB, attended by TB experts, consultants and TB survivors, among others.
Kalita said Tata Tea has signed an MoU with REACH for nine tea gardens in Assam, which would be made TB-free. Another tea estate in Nagaon district, Nonoi tea garden, has also contacted REACH for the programme, he added. Kalita further said REACH has been in contact with various tea associations as well as tea labourers groups and elected representatives to increase awareness about TB and help in eradicating the disease.

Dr Dhruba Jyoti Deka, WHO consultant, informed that 37,000-38,000 TB cases are detected annually in the public sector hospitals in the state, with another 2,000-3,000 reported from the private sectors. He pointed that about 30,000 TB cases are detected out of 1.50 lakh (approx) screening that are done currently, while the target is for 3 lakh screening, which could lead to detection of 1.5 lakh cases.

He added that the incidence of TB per lakh population in Assam is 213, which is on the higher end of the national average. Dr Deka further said besides the tea garden areas, other vulnerable areas include border areas, char areas, slums, industrial units and children below 14 years of age. Dr NJ Das, Special Programme Officer (Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme), highlighted the work towards detection and medication being done to help control the disease.

He emphasised that Assam was working in right earnest to be among the first states in the country to be TB-free before the deadline of 2025. REACH consultant Dr Jaya Shreedhar emphasised on the role of media in reporting on TB cases to create greater awareness as well as help in its eradication.