New Delhi: The Centre has allowed homeless and destitute tuberculosis (TB) patients, who lack Aadhaar cards or bank accounts, to receive nutritional support, even as Delhi High Court has sought an explanation from authorities over delays in reaching out to such vulnerable groups.
The central TB division of the Union ministry of health and family welfare issued the order on April 8, the same day HC, which was hearing a PIL, issued a notice to the Union and Delhi govts, asking them to spell out actions taken on earlier decisions to provide alternative nutritional support to homeless TB patients.
The court has sought their replies within three weeks and listed the matter for July 17.
The petition had flagged that several patients were being denied benefits under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana — it provides each of them Rs 1,000 per month for nutrition — due to lack of Aadhaar cards, bank accounts and mobile numbers.
In a letter issued the same day, the central TB division clarified that such patients should not be denied support solely due to missing KYC documents, and allowed in-kind assistance, such as cooked meals and food support, to ensure continuity of treatment.
Decisions to provide alternative support, including cooked food, dry ration and NGO-led delivery, had been taken at a Jan 19 meeting of Delhi’s TB programme, with minutes issued on Feb 23. However, they remained unimplemented, prompting the court to seek accountability.
The decision now enables authorities in Delhi to work with NGOs, shelter homes and community organisations to reach patients living on pavements or in night shelters — a group largely excluded from the direct benefit transfer (DBT) system.
The PIL cited at least 35 homeless TB patients who had repeatedly approached authorities but failed to receive any support despite being on treatment and eligible under the scheme.
Ashok Agarwal, petitioner and counsel for Social Jurist, a civil rights group, said that without proper nutrition, TB patients are at higher risk of relapse, developing drug resistance and even death, calling it “not just a welfare issue but a public health emergency”. He added, “Govt has no justification for this delay. It is not difficult to ensure food support for such patients if there is intent.”
The petition also pointed out that the scheme itself permits both cash transfers and in-kind support, raising questions over why such patients were excluded in the first place.
Govt data cited in the petition indicate that only around 70% of notified TB patients receive DBT benefits, pointing to a wide gap in implementation.
India continues to bear a heavy TB burden, with over 26 lakh cases reported annually, making uninterrupted nutritional support critical for successful outcome of treatment.
The petition argued that exclusion of homeless patients from the scheme amounted to a violation of the right to life and health, as guaranteed under the Constitution.
Under the revised approach, patients without Aadhaar or bank access will receive food or ration support instead of cash, while others will continue to avail themselves of DBT, with Delhi govt asked to ensure proper delivery and monitoring.
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