The hardships endured by rural women during #pregnancy & #childbirth tend to go unnoticed. A recent survey (JABS) sheds light on this hidden ordeal. The findings were released today (18th Nov) at the Indian Women’s Press Corps, Delhi.
Thread with sneak-peak findings. [1/16]
Thread with sneak-peak findings. [1/16]
The case for #MaternityEntitlements was made almost 100 years ago… [2/16]
Some women are more equal than others…
India gets credit for generous #maternitybenefits (see UNICEF infographic), but that’s only for a small minority of women in the #formalsector. There was nothing for other women in #unorganized sector until .... [3/16]
India gets credit for generous #maternitybenefits (see UNICEF infographic), but that’s only for a small minority of women in the #formalsector. There was nothing for other women in #unorganized sector until .... [3/16]
... the National Food Security Act 2013 made ₹ 6,000 per child, a universal entitlement.
In 2017, the Modi govt. launched the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): reduced benefits to ₹ 5,000 restricted to first child. But budgets have been tiny. [4/16]
In 2017, the Modi govt. launched the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): reduced benefits to ₹ 5,000 restricted to first child. But budgets have been tiny. [4/16]
To better understand experiences of pregnancy and childbirth in rural India, we conducted a six-state survey in the summer of 2019.
A random sample of 706 women were covered in total. [5/16]
A random sample of 706 women were covered in total. [5/16]
Why do we need for maternity entitlements? Plenty of reasons – 5 highlighted here.
Reason 1. Special needs of pregnancy get short shrift
For eg. 39% of women in UP did not even know whether or not they had gained weight during their last pregnancy. [6/16]
Reason 1. Special needs of pregnancy get short shrift
For eg. 39% of women in UP did not even know whether or not they had gained weight during their last pregnancy. [6/16]
Reason 2. Pregnant women are weak and exhausted
50% experienced at least one sign of weakness during pregnancy and most got very little rest and worked right up till the delivery. [7/16]
50% experienced at least one sign of weakness during pregnancy and most got very little rest and worked right up till the delivery. [7/16]
Reason 3. Poor diets during pregnancy
A majority of women ate less (!) during their pregnancy. Less than a third increased their intake of nutritious food (milk, curd, eggs, meat, etc.) [8/16]
A majority of women ate less (!) during their pregnancy. Less than a third increased their intake of nutritious food (milk, curd, eggs, meat, etc.) [8/16]
Reason 4. Low weight-gain during pregnancy against norms
Nursing women gained just 7 kg (avg) during pregnancy, against a norm of 13-18 kg (low BMI women).
Below, avg weight-gain vs. norm by month of pregnancy for "leaders" (CG, HP, OD) & "laggards" (JH, MP, UP) states. [9/16]
Nursing women gained just 7 kg (avg) during pregnancy, against a norm of 13-18 kg (low BMI women).
Below, avg weight-gain vs. norm by month of pregnancy for "leaders" (CG, HP, OD) & "laggards" (JH, MP, UP) states. [9/16]
Reason 5. Delivery is major economic contingency
Close to a third had to borrow or sell or sell assets to meet expense of last delivery (₹ 6,409 on average) [10/16]
Close to a third had to borrow or sell or sell assets to meet expense of last delivery (₹ 6,409 on average) [10/16]
These are only a few important reasons (among many others!) why women require social support.
However, coverage of PMMVY is very low – just 22% of all births in 2018-19, according to official data obtained under RTI. Survey findings are also consistent with these. [11/16]
However, coverage of PMMVY is very low – just 22% of all births in 2018-19, according to official data obtained under RTI. Survey findings are also consistent with these. [11/16]
How did this happen? The JABS survey sheds some light.
Briefly, women’s rights have been denied in three steps. [12/16]
Briefly, women’s rights have been denied in three steps. [12/16]
We also saw a re-play of the various payment-related issues arising due to the #Aadhaar payment system.
One-fifth of the respondents who had applied for PMMVY reported experiencing Aadhaar-related problems. [13/16]
One-fifth of the respondents who had applied for PMMVY reported experiencing Aadhaar-related problems. [13/16]
Against this gloomy picture, we observed a few signs of positive change.
Like the high use of public ambulances at the time of delivery among the women in our sample. [14/16]
Like the high use of public ambulances at the time of delivery among the women in our sample. [14/16]
Odisha'a Mamata scheme is showing the way forward - it covers two children not one (unlike PMMVY) and performs much better in every respect of coverage – awareness levels, application rates, and actual benefits. [15/16]
There is an urgent need for better social support of pregnant and nursing women. Here are a few steps that would go a long way. [16/16]
Some of the media coverage here.
