The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Ministry of Defence, will launch JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams on 8 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to strengthen community participation in India’s fight against tuberculosis (TB).
In the first phase, JOSH Teams will be rolled out across 55 districts in 11 States, with the aim of strengthening youth-led community mobilisation and taking the message of TB Mukt Bharat to the grassroots.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will lead the national launch in the presence of Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
According to the Health Ministry, JOSH Teams have been envisaged as a structured mechanism to channel the energy and reach of India’s youth into organised community action for TB elimination. The teams will bring together Class-I officers, MY Bharat volunteers and NCC cadets, combining administrative leadership with the extensive youth networks and community outreach capabilities of MY Bharat and NCC.
In the first phase, the initiative will focus on strengthening engagement at the block/ward and community levels, taking the TB Mukt Bharat message beyond health facilities and closer to people and communities where they live, work and interact.
Through community outreach and engagement, JOSH Teams will support the dissemination of key messages on TB symptoms, prevention, timely diagnosis and completion of treatment. They will also contribute to efforts to address myths and misconceptions surrounding TB, reduce stigma and encourage individuals, families and communities to participate actively in the national TB elimination movement.
The initiative seeks to enable young people to become active partners in the TB response, providing them with a defined platform to contribute to awareness generation, social mobilisation and community engagement. The convergence of Class-I Officers, MY Bharat Volunteers and NCC Cadets is expected to further strengthen the connect between government programmes and communities at the grassroots.
The JOSH Teams initiative builds on the growing emphasis on community participation and Jan Bhagidari as important pillars of India’s TB elimination efforts. In 2025, 67,933 Panchayats across 697 districts were recognised as TB Mukt, reflecting the collective efforts of health workers, elected representatives, community members and volunteers in advancing the national TB elimination agenda.
“JOSH Teams will build on this spirit of Jan Bhagidari by harnessing the energy, outreach and social networks of young people to further strengthen awareness, mobilisation and community participation in the TB response,” the Health Ministry said in a release.
The event will also witness the launch of Khushi Avatar, an AI-powered chatbot aimed at strengthening public awareness, community engagement and participation in the national effort towards TB elimination.
