## Policy Summary: Malaria Control in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR)
**Subject:** Response to a Lok Sabha question regarding the spread of Malaria in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam during 2024.
**Issue:** Acknowledgment of a Malaria outbreak in the BTR during 2024, specifically noting 4 deaths in the Kokrajhar district.
**Government Action:** The Central Government, through the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) and the Regional Office of Health & Family Welfare (RoHFW), Shillong, provided assistance to the Government of Assam in implementing targeted malaria control measures in Kokrajhar in December 2024. These measures encompassed:
* Enhanced surveillance and complete treatment protocols.
* Activation of Rapid Response Teams.
* Vector control interventions, including distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs), larvicidal spraying, use of larvivorous fish, fogging, and Indoor Residual Spray (IRS).
**Funding:** Malaria prevention and control is administered under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), which falls under the National Health Mission (NHM). Funds are allocated to States/UTs based on their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and absorption capacity. For the financial year 2024-25, the State of Assam received Rs. 21.01 Crores under NVBDCP under NHM for malaria control activities. Funds are allocated on a lump sum basis under the flexible pool of NHM to offer flexibility to the StatesUTs.
**Reporting Authority:** Smt. Anupriya Patel, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Data is based on reports submitted by States/UTs to the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC).
Key Entities Referenced
Bodoland Territorial Region: An autonomous region in Assam, India, affected by a Malaria outbreak in 2024.
Malaria: A vector-borne disease that caused deaths in the Bodoland Territorial Region in 2024, and the focus of control measures.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy and programs, including malaria control.
National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control: A center under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare responsible for controlling vector-borne diseases like malaria.
National Health Mission: An overarching mission under which the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme operates.
National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme: A program for prevention and control of vector borne diseases including Malaria.
Assam: The State in India where the Bodoland Territorial Region is located and where malaria control measures are being implemented.
Anupriya Patel: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 943
TO BE ANSWERED ON25.07.2025
SPREAD OFMALARIAIN BODOLAND TERRITORIALREGION
943: SHRIJOYANTABASUMATARY:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that during the year 2024 a large number of people in Bodoland
Territorial Region (BTR) had lost their life due to Malaria outbreak and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to control the spread of
Malaria in the said region; and
(c) the details of funds sanctioned and released for the said region during the last
financial year to improve the health services and control the said epidemic?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a)Asper thereportsubmitted bytheStates/UTsto theNationalCenter forVector BorneDiseases
Control (NCVBDC) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the numbers of deaths due to
Malariaoutbreakduringtheyear2024inBodolandTerritorialRegion(BTR)areasfollows:
SI.No. District Death (2024)
1 Kokrajhar 4
2 Baksa 0
3 Chirang 0
4 Udalgiri 0
(b) The Central Government Health Officials from National Center for Vector Borne Diseases
(NCVBDC) and Regional office of Health & Family Welfare (RoH&FW), Shillong visited
Kokrajhar in December 2024, helped Government of Assam to provide targeted malaria control
measures. These measures include enhanced surveillance and complete treatment, activation of
Rapid Response Teams, and vector control. Vector control efforts involve distribution of LLINs,
larvicidalspraying,useoflarvivorousfish,fogging,andIndoorResidualSpray(IRS).
(c) National Center for Vector Borne Diseases (NCVBDC) under the overarching umbrella of
NationalHealthMission(NHM)administerstheNationalVectorBorneDiseaseControlProgramme(NVBDCP) for prevention and control of vector borne diseases including Malaria. Funds are
allocated to the programme activities under NHM on the basis of State/UT specific Programme
Implementation Plans(PIP) and States/UTs are required to utilize funds as per their need, priority
and on the basis of their absorption capacity. Programme funds are allocated on lump sum basis
under the flexible pool of NHM to offer flexibility to the States/UTs. States/UTs are allowed to
ensure adequate resources to various components including improvement of health services and
control and elimination of malaria. The SPIP approval towards malaria for the State of Assam
underNVBDCPunderNHMfortheFinancial Year2024-25isRs.21.01Crores
******