When she was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2009, Keyuri Bhanushali had nobody she could turn to for help. Just when she was trying to understand the disease and find ways to cope with the side-effects of medication, she was wrongly treated by her doctor, thus, converting her ailment to multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB). The accountant-turned- copywriter recalls, "Dr Zarir F Udwadia, India's leading chest physician, went through my papers and made changes in my medication. Finally, in 2011, I was declared TB free." Earlier this month, the 36-year-old's appeal for an increase in the direct benefit transfer (DBT) allocated to TB notified patients made rounds on Twitter.

In the video, she talks about the loopholes in the Nikshay Poshan Yojana announced by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in April this year. "As per this scheme, R600 crore was allotted to support the nutritional needs of all notified TB patients. Under this, each TB patient in the public sector will receive R500 per month to address his/her nutritional needs. If one is to avail the scheme, they need to provide their bank account details to ensure unhindered financial support. But is the amount enough? Do patients deserve such limited nutrition while fighting a serious disease? There is enough documentation to suggest that poor nutrition is linked to poverty and hunger. It delays recovery and also causes higher mortality among TB-affected people," Keyuri informs.