What is the primary objective of the Nikshay Poshan Yojana?

The government scheme aims to offer nutritional support to TB patients by providing them with financial assistance during their treatment period.

Who is eligible to benefit from this scheme?

All TB patients registered under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) are eligible for the benefits of the Nikshay Poshan Yojana.

How much financial assistance is provided to TB patients?

TB patients receive ₹500 per month for the entire duration of their treatment as nutritional support under this scheme.

How is the financial assistance delivered to the beneficiaries?

The assistance is provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

What steps should a TB patient take to avail the benefits of this scheme?

TB patients should ensure they are registered under the NTEP and provide their bank account details to the concerned health authorities to receive the financial assistance.

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Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Nutritional Support To TB Patients

Alankar Mishra

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Updated: 28-01-2025 at 7:28 AM

Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Nutritional Support To TB Patients

The Nikshay Poshan Yojana is an initiative promulgated by MoHFW under the National Health Mission (NHM) which is a scheme focused on incentivising patients with Tuberculosis (TB). The objective of the government scheme is to enable TB patients to get the necessary nutritional support to escalate the healing process. It is targeted to all TB patients notified from 1st April 2018 and is covered under DBT for disbursement purposes.

Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Overview

Feature	Details
Scheme Name	Nikshay Poshan Yojana
Target Group	TB patients registered on the Nikshay portal
Financial Incentive	₹1000/month per patient for the duration of anti-TB treatment
Disbursement Mode	Cash (via DBT) or in-kind (food basket of at least ₹1000/month)
Eligibility	TB patients registered on the Nikshay portal
Exclusions	None
Implementation Agency	Central TB Division, MoHFW
Application Process	Offline (Visit nearest healthcare facility for registration)

What Is Nikshay Poshan Yojana or Nutritional Support To TB Patients?

The Nikshay Poshan Yojana registered TB patients receive a sustenance stipend of five hundred rupees every month or a food basket containing items worth the same amount to aid their recovery. This government scheme motivates TB patients to stay on treatment and generally improves the health status of TB patients during the recovery phase.

Status of TB in India

Out of an estimated of around 2.7 million cases of TB in the world in 2019, the highest burden of TB was reported in India. The government initiated several programs like Nikshay Poshan Yojana to clear TB by the year 2025.

Key Features

The main objective of the Nikshay Poshan Yojana is to provide nutrition to tuberculosis (TB) patients, which will work towards improving their recovery and compliance with treatment. The govt scheme has a scope for providing comprehensive benefits to patients which is also simple. Some of the key features of the scheme include:

Nutritional Support: Cash or a food basket worth up to ₹ 1000 per month.
Direct Benefit Transfer: Maternity or child care additional benefits are credited to the account of the patient in direct payment.
Inclusiveness: It is open to all registered TB patients on the Nikshay portal.
Cash or In-Kind: States may provide benefits in the form of cash or food baskets.

Objectives For Nikshay Poshan Yojana

The Nikshay Poshan Yojana has the primary goal of helping Tuberculosis patients by taking care of their nutritional requirements and encouraging them to stick to treatment. The scheme expects to make a significant difference by delivering assistance directly to those in need. The scheme’s primary objectives include:

Nutritional Support: To extend cash or food baskets targeted to TB patients to enhance the probability of recovery.
Encourage Treatment Adherence: To enhance the will of the patients to remain on the anti-TB therapy.
Direct Benefit Transfer: To ensure rapid and efficient disbursement of incentives.

Benefits Of Nikshay Poshan Yojana

The Nikshay Poshan Yojana brings in a few core benefits ensuring that Tuberculosis patients can avail the required nutritional support for their recovery. This scheme guarantees that there’s enhanced compliance as well as better treatment outcomes by offering timely and direct support. The scheme’s key benefits include:

Monetary benefits: A cash incentive in the amount of ₹ 1000 will be provided to each registered TB patient every month in the form of cash or food baskets equivalent to the value of ₹ 1000.
Better Health Benefits: This measure ensures the patients are taken care of through nutrition making sure they adhere to the treatment better and recover faster.
Simplified Procedures: The benefits are transferred to patients directly through DBT someday enabling the Departure of patients.
State Variability: Variability between the states is allowed on the issue of mode of benefit whether cash or in-kind.

Schedule of Payment For Nikshay Poshan Yojana

The Nikshay Poshan Yojana ensures systematic payments to TB patients during their treatment period. Payments are made monthly for the entire duration of the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) regimen. Below is the detailed schedule:

Type of Patient	Usual Treatment Duration	First Incentive	Second Incentive	Third Incentive	Fourth Incentive	Subsequent Incentive
New	6 months	Upon notification	@ 2 months after completion of the intensive phase follow-up	@ 6 months after completion of treatment follow-up result	—	—
Previously Treated	8 months	Upon notification	@ 3 months after completion of the intensive phase follow-up	@ 5 months of treatment	@ 8 months after completion of treatment follow-up result	—
Drug-Resistant TB	24 months (9-12 months for shorter regimens)	Upon notification	@ 2 months after follow-up result	@ 4 months after follow-up result	@ 6 months after follow-up result	Every two months until the end of treatment
Exception Handling	Extensions of treatment	₹ 1000/- per month for one month	₹ 1000/- per month for one month	₹ 1000/- per month for one month	₹ 1000/- per month for one month	₹ 1000/- per month for one month
Key Notes:

Payments for patients notified on Nikshay before 01/04/2018 will cover only the remaining treatment duration.
For paediatric patients without bank accounts, payments are made to their parents' or guardians' accounts.
For patients without bank accounts or Aadhaar numbers, healthcare staff assist with opening accounts under schemes like Jan Dhan Yojna and Aadhaar enrolment.

Timelines / Periodicity For Nikshay Poshan Yojana

The Nikshay Poshan Yojana ensures financial assistance for TB patients throughout their treatment. Monthly disbursements are made until the patient completes their treatment. Below is a detailed timeline and periodicity:

Phase	Duration	Financial Assistance	Frequency
Initial Registration	Start of treatment	₹1000 per month	Monthly
Ongoing Treatment	Throughout treatment	₹1000 per month	Monthly disbursement
Completion Phase	End of treatment	Final disbursement based on completion	One-time final settlement

Performance of Nikshay Poshan Yojana

The Nikshay Poshan Yojana has had a significant positive effect on the treatment of TB patients and their achievements. Due to its successful application, patients’ overall health and economic burden have been enhanced. The performance of the scheme can be perceived in terms of:

The Nikshay Poshan Yojana has completed its objective of increasing nutrition support which encourages TB patients’ compliance with the full course of treatment leading to better health outcomes.
The scheme, in particular, has alleviated the socioeconomic stress caused by TB treatment to the underprivileged sections of society.

Response To Nikshay Poshan Yojana

Both patients and healthcare providers are in support of the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, which is a very good sign. Most beneficiaries have thanked this program for the nutritional support that has made their treatment much easier. Major responses to the scheme are as below –

Patients’ perspectives have been quite favourable, with many of them thanking the financial assistance rendered as well as better access to food baskets.
The healthcare providers are in support as well since the scheme can make a difference in the recovery rate of the patients.

Eligibility Criteria For Nikshay Poshan Yojana

Patients with tuberculosis (TB) can apply for the Nikshay Poshan Yojana on meeting the specified eligibility criteria. Such rules are meant for the targeted people or beneficiaries who are receiving treatment and need monetary assistance. The eligibility criteria are:

Must be a TB patient undergoing treatment.
Must be registered or notified on the Nikshay portal.
Must have a bank account or a guardian's bank account linked to Aadhaar for DBT disbursement.

Application Process Of Nikshay Poshan Yojana

Nikshay Poshan Yojana's application process seems quite simple and can be completed at any registered healthcare institution. It is the responsibility of the patients to ensure that the linking of all appropriate information has been accomplished to facilitate the disbursement of benefits. The procedures to apply are these:

Go to the nearest healthcare facility to register for the Nikshay portal.
Make sure that all necessary bank details and Aadhaar numbers have been linked with the system for DBT disbursement.

Documents Required For Nikshay Poshan Yojana

Nikshay Poshan Yojana beneficiaries must produce certain documents for verification and other procedural needs. These documents help in absolute identification and enable smooth fund transfer. Applicants need to provide the following documents:

Name of the patient’s or guardian’s bank account
Patient’s aadhaar number
Nikshay ID: Any patient seeking benefits must possess a registered Nikshay ID.

How To Create A Nikshay ID

Creating a Nikshay ID is a simple process for patients under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana. Follow these steps to get started:

Step 1: Visit the official website.

Step 2: Contact Your Healthcare Provider:

Visit your nearest government healthcare facility.
Healthcare workers will help you register on the Nikshay portal.

Step 3: Provide Required Information:

Your name, address, and contact details.
Aadhaar card and bank account details for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Step 4: Verification:

The healthcare provider will verify your details.
After verification, your Nikshay ID will be created.

Step 5: Receive Confirmation:

You will receive an acknowledgement with your Nikshay ID via SMS or email.

About E-Nikshay Platform

The E-Nikshay platform is a web-based tool which has been developed to register and track TB patients in the country of India. It offers information concerning treatment adherence and facilitates the employment of disbursements, such as the Nikshay Poshan Yojana. The platform makes it possible to ensure that support reaches every TB patient on time.

About Nikshay Mitras

Nikshay Mitras are those volunteer TB patients who provide assistance and motivation to assist the patients in their journey, both practically and in terms of emotional and psychological well-being. The initiative encourages citizens and charitable institutions to be Nikshay Mitras and join the battle against Tuberculosis.

Challenges Towards Nikshay Poshan Yojana

It is recognized that the Nikshay Poshan Yojana has been beneficial but there are still various challenges hampering its implementation. The issues are largely centred on awareness, connectivity, and logistical constraints. The challenges observed about the scheme include:

Awareness: Some people in the communities are unaware of the advantages of the scheme.
Connectivity: These are primarily issues of linking an Aadhaar and bank accounts in the rural setting.
In-kind Distribution: Timeliness of delivery of food baskets in some states due to poor logistic system.

Global and India’s Initiatives to Tackle TB

India has unveiled several strategies to combat TB in the country which has continued to burden the population. The concerted actions include But TB remains a public health problem, India is spearheading a multitude of efforts to combat TB along with other partners.

End TB Strategy: To achieve a 2030 target of reducing TB mortality and incidence by 80% from the present levels.
Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Helps to improve treatment compliance by offering nutritional support for TB patients.

Conclusion

The Nikshay Poshan Yojana from the government is beneficial in providing much-needed nutrition support to TB patients undergoing treatment to aid in their healing and full recovery. This program is part of the Government’s effort to fight against TB and the quality of life of the patients suffering from this disease.

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