The demonetisation sop is a unique opportunity to evolve the maternal and child health agenda into a universal Maternity Benefits Programme in the budget
In an unexpected twist, demonetisation has spurred Prime Minister Modi into championing the cause of maternal and child health (MCH) in India. On 31 December, pregnant women in India were the surprise beneficiaries of post demonetisation sops as the PM committed his government to fulfilling one of the promises of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) by extending the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) from a 53-district pilot to a national programme.
Repackaged as the Maternity Benefits Programme (MBP), the PM’s renewed commitment to MCH is surprising. Despite a dedicated chapter to MCH in the 2016 Economic Survey, in the last three years, this government’s track record on delivery has been poor. Budgets for the key nutrition flagship, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme were slashed from Rs16,312 crore in 2013-14 to Rs14,000 crore in 2016-17 and calls to address implementation deficits haven’t resulted in significant reform on the ground. The IGMSY pilot too received very few resources. Between 2013-14 and 2016-17, a total of Rs1,294 crore was allocated but only 63% was actually released till July 2016. With the pilot floundering, few had expected the IGMSY to be scaled up. But given the serious deficits in nutritional outcomes and the high infant and maternal mortality rates in India, this focus on MCH is a welcome first step.
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