The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has detailed comprehensive initiatives for maternal healthcare and nutrition support for pregnant women across India. Under the National Health Mission, multiple schemes provide free delivery services including caesarean sections, drugs, consumables, diagnostics, diet during stay, transportation, and blood transfusion through Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, with similar entitlements for sick infants up to one year.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan offers fixed-day, free quality antenatal check-ups by specialists on the 9th day of every month, while the extended PMSMA strategy provides additional financial incentives for high-risk pregnant women and accompanying ASHAs for three extra visits. Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) ensures dignified, respectful quality healthcare at no cost with zero tolerance for service denial.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana provides direct cash incentives of ₹5,000 to beneficiaries' bank or post office accounts for the first child, with remaining incentives through Janani Suraksha Yojana after institutional delivery, totaling approximately ₹6,000. For the second child, ₹6,000 is provided if the child is a girl.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 addresses malnutrition by providing supplementary nutrition to pregnant women, lactating mothers, children (6 months to 6 years), and adolescent girls according to revised National Food Security Act norms from January 2023. The nutrition package now includes diet diversity, quality protein, healthy fats, and essential micronutrients including Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Dietary Folate, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12, with additional nutrition for Severely Acutely Malnourished children.
The SUMAN Roadmap 2030 adopts a life-cycle approach integrating interventions across pre-pregnancy, antenatal, intrapartum, and post-natal care. The newly launched Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan implements a 7x7x7 strategy targeting seven beneficiary groups: low birth weight babies (0-6 months), children (6-59 months), children (5-9 years), adolescents (10-19 years), pregnant and lactating women, and women of reproductive age (20-49 years).
Implementation is monitored through a multi-layered framework including State-wise key deliverables review during NPCC Meetings, Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework assessments, and annual common review Missions for independent on-ground evaluations. Technology-enabled governance includes the Poshan Tracker for real-time monitoring, a Nominee Module for uninterrupted Take-Home Ration distribution, and smartphones with data recharge support for Anganwadi Workers. Field-level workers including ANMs, ASHAs, and CHOs promote programs through interpersonal communication supported by Information, Education & Communication and Behaviour Change Communication strategies.