Acknowledgement

The Guidelines and norms for STDCs in NTEP is an end product of a series of consultations and meetings including a variety of stakeholders working in NTEP. The 2023 update of the guideline was prepared by a working committee formed by Central TB Division under the chairmanship of Director NTI, and composed of members from CTD, NTI, NITRD, NIRT, The Union, WHO, STOs, STDC Directors, and other technical experts and community representatives working in NTEP. 

The Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the members of the working committee and their supporting organizations in preparation of this document. The document is built on the findings and recommendations of the STDC Baseline Assessment conducted by the USAID supported, The Union led iDEFEAT TB Project. 

The Central TB Division expresses the gratitude to Ms. Roli Singh, IAS,(AS and DG -NTEP), Dr. Ashok Babu, IAS, (JS-TB), Dr. Vineet Kumar Chadha(Advisor-NTEP), Dr. K S Sachdeva, Regional Director(The Union), Dr. Ranjani Ramchandran (NPO-WHO), Dr. Malik Parmar(NPO-WHO) and Dr. Kirankumar Rade(NPO-WHO), Dr. Reuben Swamickan, Division Chief - Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases (USAID- India), Dr. Umesh Alavadi, Senior Health Advisor - Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases (USAID- India), and Dr. Jyoti Jaju, Project Director(The Union) for the overall policy guidance and expert opinion. The working committee gratefully acknowledges the leadership and decisive support provided by Dr. RP Joshi (DDG-TB), Dr. Alok Mathur (ADDG-TB), and Dr. Ravinder Kumar (TB Specialist-CTD) in development of this document.

The writing of the content was led by Dr. Somashekhar (Director NTI), along with a panel consisting of Dr. Ravichandra (NTI Bangalore), Dr. Uma Shankar(NTI Bangalore),  Dr. KK Chopra (Director STDC, Delhi), Dr. Gopal Beri (STO, Himachal Pradesh), Dr. Neeta Singla(NITRD Delhi), Dr. Niti Singh(NITRD Delhi), Dr. Mamata HG (NTI, Bangalore), Dr. Rakesh PS (The Union), Dr. Manu E Mathew (The Union), Dr. Sanjay Suryavanshi (National Consultant-CTD, WHO), Dr. Heena Goyal(National Consultant-CTD, The Union), Dr. Rajneet Prasad(National Consultant-CTD, The Union). 

For further information on the contents and preparation of this Document, please contact: Deputy Director General – TB, Central TB Division, Ministry of Health with Family Welfare, Government of India.