https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How a District in Odisha is Bringing Down Maternal Deaths through its Matrujyoti Programme

Through this programme, all pregnant mothers in the district can be provided with 4 free ultrasound and ancillary testing services during pregnancy. This initiative was envisioned by a 2012-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, who is Sundergarh Collector now, Mr. Nikhil Pavan Kalyan. Started in October 2020, maternal healthcare underwent a sea change after its launch, with the Sundergarh health team constantly aiming to reduce the graph of maternal mortality rate through it.
Indian Masterminds Stories

“In Sundergarh district, the number of maternal deaths has dropped significantly as a result of the ‘Matrujyoti’ programme. Through this programme, all pregnant mothers in the district can be provided with 4 free ultrasound and ancillary testing services during pregnancy to save precious lives,” said the Chief Minister of Odisha recently.

So, what is ‘Matrujoyoti’ all about? As the name itself suggests, it is a programme for mothers – the ‘would-be-mothers’. This initiative was envisioned by a 2012-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre who is Sundergarh Collector now, Mr. Nikhil Pavan Kalyan. And, with his efforts, this programme has shown magical results in very less time.

Started in October 2020, maternal healthcare underwent a sea change in Sundargarh after its launch, with the district health team constantly aiming to reduce the graph of infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate through it. Launched with financial support from the District Mineral Foundation, Matrujyoti offers four free ultrasound and other tests to every woman during pregnancy. Indian Masterminds interacted with Sundergarh Collector Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, IAS, to know more about this programme.

IAS Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Collector, Sundargarh, Odisha

MATRUJYOTI

Most common causes of complications leading to death during pregnancy are excessive blood loss, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion and obstructed labour.

Mr. Kalyan told Indian Masterminds: “Matrujyoti programme has made a monumental difference in maternal healthcare in Sundargarh. Over 30,000 ultrasound and other tests have been conducted so far under it. Many high-risk cases have been mitigated through timely intervention of the health ecosystem. Technology and transparency are the key to implementing programmes around mother and children’s health in Sundargarh. Digitization of Matrujyoti data along with use of its website and app helps the district administration to get status of mother and child health on their fingertips.”

He further informed that maternal and infant mortality ratio in Sundargarh has been less in comparison to the state. To further improve the situation, Matrujyoti programme is now playing a pivotal role. Free ultrasound and other tests to pregnant women are helping save precious lives. MMR and IMR in the district are now less than the state average.

HIGHLIGHTS

Apart from four free ultrasound tests for all pregnant women in the district, there is much more in this scheme. 28000 would-be-mothers will benefit annually with Antenatal Care Service (ANC). ANC is care before birth and includes education, screening, counseling, treatment, monitoring and promoting the well-being of the mother and foetus. ANC is based on providing women and their families appropriate advises and information which may help them to be in a good health during pregnancy and delivery.

In A meeting

At the same time, renovation and upgradation of more than 2500 Anganwadi Centres are being done under this programme. The construction of 700 Model Anganwadi Centres has also started. The centres will have toilets, modular kitchen, playground etc., for holistic growth of children.

Eight social health workers and Anganwadi workers have been employed to provide special care to pregnant women. In addition, the district helpline helps in arranging appointment, coordination and monitoring of doctors in high-risk cases. It also helps in real-time assessment by analysing the cases through the ‘e-Health’ portal.

ASHA and Anganwadi workers have been given smartphones with the ‘Matrujyoti’ app on it and are trained accordingly to use them for data entry. The recorded data helps in real-time monitoring of the cases and health intervention by the empanelled hospitals and clinics, as well as aids the administration in decision-making for effective programme management.

Matrujyoti Logo launch

EFFECTS

As per the monthly data from May-October 2020, the maternal mortality cases recorded were 19. However, the number recorded in the next six months, after the launch of ‘Matrujyoti’, came down to 9. And the good news is that, zero maternal death was recorded in the months of January and March 2021.

The service has shown encouraging signs and is going to be instrumental in curbing Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in the district in the long term. Under ‘Matrujyoti’, over 28 thousand pregnant women of the district are going to get the benefit annually. To achieve these objectives, seven government hospitals and 45 private clinics have been empanelled by the district administration. Anganwadi and ASHA workers along with Gaon Kalyan Samiti (GKS) members and the local community have played a vital role in the success of this programme.

Doctors diagnosing a pregnant women

5T INITIATIVE

The 5T initiative is an ambitious scheme of the government of Odisha, under which institutions are modernised to bring about a paradigm shift. 5T stands for Transparency, Teamwork, Technology, Time and Transformation. Transformation through teamwork using technology within timeline insuring transparency within a time frame. This is the basic objective of this scheme.

Sundargarh Collector Nikhil Pavan Kalyan is a true torchbearer of 5T schemes as he bats for use of technology in the extreme level, which is clearly visible in the ‘Matrujyoti’ scheme. A former IT professional, Mr. Kalyan had worked with MNCs before clearing UPSC CSE in 2011. That’s why he supports the use of technology to achieve transformation in people’s lives. Now, as the Collector of a huge district like Sundargarh, he is changing the lives of thousands of women with his tech-driven initiatives.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
8th pay commission
Big Breaking! 8th Pay Commission May Merge DA With Basic Pay: A Historic Salary Reform Set to Reshape Government Pay Structure
ONGC_resized
ONGC Launches 2025 Apprenticeship Program with 2,623 Vacancies — Empowering India’s Youth for Energy Sector Careers
PNB-resized
PNB Unlocks Rs 1,007 Crore by Selling 10% Stake in Canara HSBC Life Ahead of IPO — Strategic Move to Strengthen Core Operations
ONGC_resized
India’s State-Run Oil Giants Invest Rs 46,600 Crore in Five Months — ONGC and IOC Lead Push for Energy Infrastructure Growth
CIL & IIT Madras Tie Up
Coal India and IIT Madras Join Forces to Launch ‘Centre for Sustainable Energy’ — A Major Step Toward India’s Net-Zero Future
Rajasthan-Police
Rajasthan: 34 IPS Senior Officers Transferred in Major Reshuffle; New DG Post Created in SOG-ATS, Sachin Mittal Made New Police Commissioner of Jaipur
IRTS logo
Senior IRTS Officer Ranjan Prakash Thakur Prematurely Repatriated from ONGC to Parent Cadre for Promotion
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
8th pay commission
Big Breaking! 8th Pay Commission May Merge DA With Basic Pay: A Historic Salary Reform Set to Reshape Government Pay Structure
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT