Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will launch nationwide celebrations to commemorate ten years of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan in New Delhi today. The core aim of the scheme is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by facilitating early detection and prompt management of high-risk pregnancies. Through early identification of high-risk pregnancies, regular monitoring, and timely medical intervention, the programme has helped strengthen maternal healthcare services across the country.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the scheme on 9th June, 2016 to provide assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care services free of cost to all pregnant women. The scheme aims to ensure early risk detection, timely medical intervention, and safer pregnancies for every woman in the country. More than seven crore 50 lakh pregnant women have received antenatal services under the scheme.

 

Due to continuous government efforts, India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio decreased by 43 points, from 130 maternal deaths per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 87 in 2022-24. As part of the celebrations, awareness and outreach activities will be organised across States and Union Territories to encourage pregnant women and their families to avail the free services. On the occasion, a special 75-rupee Commemorative Coin and a five-rupee Postal Stamp will also be released.