Why in News?

• Recently, the data presented by the Registrar General of India (RGI) presents a gain in momentum of the pace of decline in India’s maternal and infant mortality rates (MMR and IMR) post-2005.

Highlights

• According to a special bulletin released by the office of the RGI, India’s MMR was 97 during 2018-2020 compared to 301 during 2001-03.
• The IMR has also been reduced to 27 (as of 2021) compared to 58 in 2005.
• The Rural-Urban difference in this context has also been narrowed.
• Unfortunately, nutrition is one key area that has remained oblivious to any major progress.
• As observed, for the last few years the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Health Mission (NHM) has been a game changer for the country in terms of mortality reductions for infants and mothers.
• The NRHM was launched In 2005 to provide accessible and affordable healthcare through a public system of primary health care.
• NHM was launched by the government of India in 2013 subsuming the National Rural Health Mission (Launched in 2005) and the National Urban Health Mission (Launched in 2013).
• Vesting in grassroot level administration (Gram Panchayat, Gram Sabha and other community organisations), the responsibility of education, health, nutrition, skills and diversified livelihoods.
• Operationalising village-specific planning process with decentralised financial resources.
• Assessing (and accordingly increasing) (a) the need for additional caregivers with capacity development to ensure household visits and (b) the intensity of monitoring needed for outcomes in nutrition.
• Encouraging diversity of local food including millets, served hot.
• Intensifying behaviour change communication.
• Institutionalising monthly health days at every Anganwadi centre with community connection and parental involvement. Creating a platform for adolescent girls in every village for empowerment and for diversified livelihoods through skills.