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India, 20th August 2025: The third edition of the Sanjeevani National Convention, jointly organized by Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation, News18 Network, and knowledge partner Tata Trusts, brought together key voices from healthcare, government, civil society, and the private sector to confront India’s escalating cancer burden. With annual cancer cases projected to reach 1.57 million by the end of 2025, and over 70% of these still diagnosed at late stages, the convention focused on shifting the national response from awareness to timely action.

Over 700 days, the Sanjeevani campaign has evolved into a high-impact, multi-platform initiative, reaching more than 600 million people through News18’s TV network and generating over 13 million digital engagements. Ground-level interventions have included cancer screening camps, school workshops, corporate health programs, and storytelling that centers the lived experiences of survivors.

For Vidya Balan, Renowned actor and Sanjeevani ambassador, the mission is deeply personal. “We must stop waiting for a crisis to prioritise ourselves,” she said on stage, standing beside survivors of all ages. “Cancer doesn’t just affect the body – it shakes identity, confidence, and family. But early detection gives us power. It gives us time. And it gives us hope.” She spoke of the transformative power that comes from self-acceptance and community.

One of the most striking moments of the convention was ‘Antaratma’, a survivor-starring ramp segment showcasing individuals who have not only survived cancer but have resumed life as professionals, parents, educators, and creators. Their presence sent a clear message—that cancer survival is not the end of the story but a powerful continuation. Their voices framed the importance of dignity, access, and follow-up care as essential elements of cancer response.

This year, Sanjeevani will make cancer screening and prevention routine across India by expanding into rural and under-served areas through community partnerships and on-ground mobilization. The program focuses on driving behavioral change, destigmatizing fear around cancer, normalizing conversations, and encouraging early detection through regular screening. Targeting schoolgirls, daily wage workers, and women in informal sectors, Sanjeevani’s clear mission is to make early detection a norm and create a stigma-free environment, ultimately saving lives nationwide. Partnerships are focused solely on expanding reach and supporting grassroots engagement.

As India stands united against cancer through Sanjeevani, the movement calls upon every citizen to embrace screening as a vital part of life, shaping a future where early detection is the norm and lives are saved every day. The legacy of Sanjeevani is not just in statistics or slogans but in forging a new social contract, a promise that through awareness, action, empathy, and partnership, India can transform the story of cancer from one of fear and loss to one of dignity, survival, and renewed hope. Every voice matter, every story counts, and every screening is a chance to save a life.