Halima Ejaj

24-year-old Halima from Dhanbad district is the only female Correspondent Changemakerin Jharkhand who belongs to a religious minority background. Halima has had her share of social work experience. She has worked in 30 villages of her district while spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS and other health issues. Other than health, she wants to work on issues like forced evictions, gender inequality and development as a video campaigner.

Children between the age of 0-6 years have no access to education, nutrition or vaccination due to the lack of an anganwadi centre in their village. Under the Janani Suraksha Yojana and the Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana, the Indian government’s scheme to bring down maternal and neonatal deaths, women and children are supposed to get nutrition and vaccinations at local anganwadicentres.

Halima Ejaz reports from Radhanagar Bhaktudih village, Dhanbad district, Jharkhand

This series on community monitoring of maternal health in India is supported by Oxfam India.