Despite multiple maternal health schemes since 2005, India's MMR reduction has plateaued. Examine how digital platforms like JANANI can address persisting gaps.

Q. Despite multiple maternal health schemes since 2005, India's MMR reduction has plateaued. Examine how digital platforms like JANANI can address persisting gaps. (15 marks, 250 words)

India's Maternal Mortality Ratio fell to 97/lakh live births (SRS 2018–20) from 130 in 2014–16, meeting the NHP-2017 target [3]. Yet, despite JSY (2005), JSSK (2011), PMSMA and SUMAN, progress is uneven and slowing—exposing gaps that fragmented, paper-based delivery cannot close.

Persisting gaps despite schemes - Poor tracking of high-risk pregnancies—paper cards miss timely referral, a leading cause of avoidable deaths. - Care discontinuity for migrant women—records do not follow the beneficiary across facilities/states. - Weak convergence between immunisation, nutrition and maternal services running in silos. - Wide inter-state disparity—Assam's MMR remains many times Kerala's [3]. - Delayed, unreliable data hampering supervision by ASHA/ANM.

How JANANI addresses them - High-risk pregnancy alerts and due-list generation prompt timely referral and follow-up [2]. - QR-enabled digital MCH cards with pan-India search ensure record portability for migrants [1]. - Interoperability with U-WIN (immunisation) and POSHAN (nutrition) enables continuum-of-care convergence [2]. - Real-time dashboards aid supervisory review and target lagging districts [2]. - ABHA/Aadhaar-biometric registration authenticates beneficiaries, reducing duplication [1].

However, benefits hinge on last-mile connectivity, frontline-worker capacity, and robust consent safeguards under the DPDP Act, 2023.

As an upgraded RCH portal embodying Digital Public Infrastructure, JANANI can convert scheme entitlements into tracked, accountable service delivery. Paired with strengthened primary care and data-privacy guardrails, such platforms can push India past its plateau toward the SDG-3 target of MMR below 70 by 2030 [3].

(~250 words)

Sources: 1. Union Health Ministry Launches JANANI Platform (PIB, May 2026) — MCH cards, ABHA/Aadhaar registration, upgraded RCH portal 2. Health Ministry launches JANANI digital platform (Akashvani News/newsonair) — high-risk alerts, due-lists, dashboards, U-WIN/POSHAN interoperability 3. Maternal & child mortality trend towards SDG 2030 targets (PIB) — MMR 97 (SRS 2018-20), inter-state disparity, SDG target