Content:
- India witnesses a steady downward trend in maternal and child mortality towards achievement of SDG 2030 targets
- Capacity Building Enhanced Through Interactive Training Under the “Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Program”
India witnesses a steady downward trend in maternal and child mortality towards achievement of SDG 2030 targets
India has shown remarkable progress in reducing maternal and child mortality between 2014 and 2021, aligning steadily with SDG 2030 targets. This success is driven by strong policy interventions, improved health infrastructure, and data-driven governance.
Relevance : GS 2(Health , Social Issues)
Progress in Key Indicators (2014–2021)
- Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):
- Reduced from 130 (2014–16) to 93 (2019–21) per lakh live births.
- 37-point reduction; significant step toward SDG target of ≤70 by 2030.
- Infant Mortality Rate (IMR):
- Declined from 39 to 27 per 1,000 live births.
- Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR):
- Decreased from 26 to 19 per 1,000 live births.
- Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR):
- Fell from 45 to 31 per 1,000 live births.
- Fertility Rate:
- Stabilized at 2.0 (from 2.3 in 2014), approaching replacement level.
- Sex Ratio at Birth:
- Improved from 899 to 913 females per 1,000 males.
State-wise SDG Target Achievement (as per SRS 2021)
- MMR Target Achieved (≤70) in 8 States:
Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka. - U5MR Target Achieved (≤25) in 12 States/UTs:
Includes Kerala (8), Delhi (14), Tamil Nadu (14), Maharashtra (16), Gujarat (24), etc. - NMR Target Achieved (≤12) in 6 States/UTs:
Kerala (4), Delhi (8), Tamil Nadu (9), Maharashtra (11), J&K (12), Himachal Pradesh (12).
India’s Global Outperformance (1990–2023)
- MMR Reduction:
- India: 86% decline.
- Global average: 48% decline.
- U5MR Reduction:
- India: 78%
- Global: 61%
- NMR Reduction:
- India: 70%
- Global: 54%
- IMR Reduction:
- India: 71%
- Global: 58%
Policy Interventions Driving Change
- Ayushman Bharat:
- World’s largest health assurance scheme, ₹5 lakh per family.
- Free Institutional Deliveries:
- Including C-sections, transport, medicines, diagnostics, and nutrition support.
- Infrastructure Strengthening:
- MCH Wings, SNCUs, HDUs/ICUs, NBSUs, and Mother-Newborn Care Units.
- Clinical Protocols:
- Use of antenatal corticosteroids, CPAP, early screening protocols.
- Human Resource Development:
- Skilling of birth attendants, midwives, ASHAs, and community workers.
- Data-Driven Governance:
- Real-time digital health monitoring for evidence-based decisions.
Scale of Impact
- Supports ~300 lakh safe pregnancies and ~260 lakh healthy live births annually.
- Emphasis on equitable access, quality assurance, and dignified care.
Capacity Building Enhanced Through Interactive Training Under the “Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Program”
Program Overview
- Organizing Body: Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), in collaboration with the Capacity Building Commission.
- Target Group: Officers from Assistant Section Officers to Under Secretaries.
Relevance: GS 2 (Governance), GS 4 (Ethics & Capacity Building)
Objectives and Significance
- Strengthen competency, accountability, and responsiveness of public servants.
- Promote collaborative work culture, interpersonal bonding, and enhanced administrative effectiveness.
- Align with the broader vision of Mission Karmayogi, India’s national civil services reform.
Training Modules Covered
- Who is a Rashtriya Karmayogi?
- Expanding Our Vision of Success and Fulfillment
- Creating a Karmayogi
- Rashtriya Karmayogi as a Nation-Builder
These modules aimed to inspire, transform mindset, and instill nation-first values and ethical responsibility among officers.
Integration with Mission Karmayogi
- Launched in 2020, Mission Karmayogi is a National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB).
- Aims to shift civil services from rule-based to role-based performance.
- Ensures continuous learning through:
- Competency frameworks
- Online self-learning on the iGOT Karmayogi platform
- Role-specific digital content and certification
Ethical & Behavioral Capacity (GS 4 Link)
- Builds competencies in:
- Emotional intelligence
- Ethical decision-making
- Service motivation and empathy
- Reinforces values of integrity, non-partisanship, dedication, and transparency in governance.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Impact and Strategic Relevance
- Promotes a citizen-centric, performance-oriented bureaucracy.
- Cultivates a culture of excellence, innovation, and adaptive leadership.
- Reinforces the government’s push for capacity-building, digital governance, and responsive public administration.
Challenges and Way Forward
- Need for regular evaluation of training outcomes and officer performance.
- Must avoid a one-size-fits-all approach; customization per role and ministry is key.
- Focus on behavioral transformation rather than just knowledge delivery.
