The Indian’s government’s scheme to bring down maternal and neonatal focuses on encouraging women to deliver at state-run health facilities--Providing cash incentives and free healthcare for pregnant women below the poverty line. However, pregnant women in Bankeda village Odisha are forced to hire private vehicles and pay for check-ups and deliveries at government health facilities. They do not receive cash incentives – Rs 1400 under the central government’s Janani Suraksha Yojana and Rs 5000 under the Mamata Yojana of the state government. “Why should we go to state-run health facilities,” they ask.
Satya Banchor reports from Bankeda village, Bolangir district, Odisha
This series on community monitoring of maternal health in India is supported by Oxfam India.
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