The Union government launched ‘Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritwa Yojana’ for pregnant women in the country. Under the scheme, the pregnant women will get ante-natal care packages and free check-ups by specialists across the country on 9th of every month. ‘PMSMY’ idea was discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur.
The move was influenced by the data of the World Bank, which stated India’s maternal mortality rate was 174 per 100,000 live births in 2015.
It is the third programme initiated by the health ministry recently, to bring down this rate; just 13 days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the idea at the rally. He stated that India’s maternal mortality rate is a matter of grave concern is undisputed.
Addressing the rally in Saharanpur in May, PM Modi had said, “Can my doctor friends do one thing? On the 9th of every month, if any poor pregnant women come to them, they should give her free treatment. Our poor mothers sometimes die during childbirth. If our doctors give 12 days in 12 months to the cause, mentioning the 9th of every month, stating that no doctor will suffer a major loss. If people can give up gas subsidy, doctors can also give 12 days to poor mothers.”
The ministry instantly decided to make it a new programme for ante-natal care. An official said the scheme was kicked off at a record pace to meet the date mentioned by the Prime Miniter.
Therefore, the ministry organised free health check-ups for pregnant women on June 9 in 14 states including Bihar, Chattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, under the PMSMY, which will run parallel to the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK).
