Amul Dairy Will Support 1,300 TB Patients

Amul Dairy has committed nutritional support worth approximately Rs 1.17 crore to tuberculosis patients in three Gujarat districts. The programme covers 1,300 beneficiaries: 500 in Anand, 500 in Kheda and 300 in the Virpur and Balasinor blocks of Mahisagar.

Under the scheme, each beneficiary will receive one food package every month for six months. The monthly package is valued at Rs 1,500, giving each patient assistance worth Rs 9,000 over the full programme period.

The packages contain chana, jaggery, soybeans, mung beans, peanuts, rice, groundnut oil and toor dal. The items are intended to provide food support while recipients continue their TB treatment.

Amul Dairy’s board approved the expenditure unanimously at a meeting on July 30. The decision followed the central government’s appeal for greater public participation in India’s tuberculosis-elimination efforts. The initiative is being implemented under the “TB Mukt Anand-Kheda-Mahisagar District” campaign and forms part of the wider Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

The programme was formally launched on a Saturday when the kits were handed to the district tuberculosis officers of Anand, Kheda and Mahisagar. Government officials, elected representatives, district authorities and members of Amul Dairy’s board attended the event. Those present included cabinet minister Raman Solanki, MP and former Union minister Devusinh Chauhan, and MLAs Arjunsinh Chauhan, Rajesh Zala and Mansinh Chauhan.

More than 1,200 representatives of milk cooperative societies also took part in the launch. Addressing the gathering, Mr Chauhan referred to Amul’s continuing social-responsibility activities. The national campaign emphasises early diagnosis, adherence to treatment, nutritional assistance and community involvement in efforts to eliminate TB.