Worried over the failure of its schemes, the government has resorted to holding magic shows to eradicate TB, which has also taken many children in its spate. The city alone has registered more than 279 cases of TB in children of less than 14 years of age.

The government has hired the services of a Chandigarh-based magician, Ved Prakash, to spread awareness about the causes of TB and the precautionary measures that can be taken.

These magic shows are part of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) and aimed at educating school and college students and slums-dwellers. One such show was held at DAV Public School, Lawrence Road.

Dr Naresh Chawla, district TB officer, said more than 4,200 patients of TB were reported in Amritsar in the last one year. “A majority of these are children, who had either contracted TB from their parents or infected people in their neighbourhood,” he said.

Asserting that more than 18 lakh people contract TB every year, Dr Chawla said, “The growing levels of pollutants have brought down the immunity of people, particularly children.”

He added that according to a recently-conducted national level survey, 40 to 50 per cent patients had TB virus in them.

“TB is a serious disease, which needs attention. I am happy to be a part of this mission,” said magician Ved Prakash.