Maharashtra Ministers Seek Corporate CSR Support To Eliminate Tuberculosis By 2030
Maharashtra Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar and Minister of State for Public Health Meghna Sakore Bordikar called for greater corporate participation through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives at the TB Mukt Bharat–Corporate Participation Summit 2026 in Mumbai on August 13, 2026, aiming to accelerate the state’s drive to eliminate tuberculosis before 2030.
Speaking at the summit, Abitkar stressed that tuberculosis elimination could not be achieved by the government alone and required a coordinated, mission-mode approach involving corporates, civil society, and local communities. He noted that CSR could play a critical role in strengthening state efforts, particularly in generating awareness, encouraging early diagnosis, and supporting patient treatment.
Abitkar pointed out that fear, stigma, and concerns regarding the impact of tuberculosis on families continue to discourage people from seeking timely testing. Delayed diagnosis, he explained, increases the risk of transmission and can significantly worsen a patient's medical condition. He urged corporate houses to support targeted screening, awareness drives, and community-level health interventions, noting that awareness about the disease remains a challenge even in urban centers.
To demonstrate the effectiveness of sustained efforts, Abitkar cited Maharashtra’s previous public health campaigns against polio, Covid-19, and HIV/AIDS as prime examples of how mission-oriented initiatives deliver results.
Minister of State for Public Health Meghna Sakore Bordikar stated that the state’s goal of eliminating tuberculosis before 2030 requires active collaboration across all sections of society. She stated that neither the central nor the state government can drive social change independently without citizens, social organisations, and corporate stakeholders becoming active partners.
Bordikar highlighted the Nikshay Mitra initiative, under which individuals and organisations provide nutritional and other essential support to tuberculosis patients. She appealed to more institutions and corporate houses to contribute their resources and expertise toward public health programmes.
Additionally, Bordikar mentioned that the state government is simultaneously working on other key health priorities, including thalassaemia prevention and tackling childhood obesity, with support from organisations such as UNICEF and Rotary.
