Dr. Manorama Bakshi
As we mark yet another International Day of Action for Women’s Health on May 28, we must pause—not to pat ourselves on the back for progress made—but to reckon with what still remains undone.
Yes, there has been progress. India’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has plummeted from 556 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to just 89 in 2022, reflecting an 84% decline. That is no small feat. It represents tens of thousands of mothers saved from preventable deaths. It signals that national programs like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), and institutional delivery campaigns have made inroads. Yet, the story behind these numbers is neither linear nor complete.
Because dignity, mental health, nutrition, and reproductive autonomy remain elusive for far too many Indian women. Let us begin with maternal mental health—a subject long treated as taboo. Postpartum Depression (PPD) affects nearly 1 in 5 women, yet it remains largely invisible in our public health discourse. Where is PPD in frontline worker trainings? Where are the community-based mental health screenings? Even as we strive to ensure safe deliveries, we cannot ignore what comes after: the emotional well-being of the mother. Integrating PPD modules in ASHA, ANM, and PHC training curricula must become non-negotiable.
Then there’s the issue of unmonitored abortions, which continue to account for 8% of maternal deaths in India, a staggering reality in 2025. Despite the liberal provisions of the MTP Act, unsafe abortions—often outside regulated facilities or conducted by untrained personnel—remain a tragic contributor to preventable maternal deaths. If we want to protect women, we must ensure access to safe abortion care, backed by counselling, community awareness, and trained providers—particularly in rural and tribal belts.
Equally troubling is the nutritional divide. India launched Anemia Mukt Bharat with much fanfare. Yet today, 57% of women, 59% of adolescent girls, and 52% of pregnant women remain anaemic. How is it that we’re doling out iron supplements, but women are still battling fatigue, low immunity, and cognitive delays? Because anaemia is not just a medical condition—it is a symptom of systemic neglect. Poor diet diversity, social norms that prioritize men’s nutrition, and lack of nutrition counselling continue to undermine our efforts. It is time to revisit the implementation design of AMB and ensure that nutrition is contextualized, localized, and community-driven.
Initiatives like LaQshya—aimed at improving quality of care in labour rooms—are commendable steps. But dignity in care goes beyond sterile environments and trained personnel. Dignity also means menstrual hygiene access, mental health support, non-coercive family planning, and a voice in health decisions.
Let’s talk about that voice—or the lack thereof—especially when it comes to contraception. According to NFHS-5, only 0.3% of Indian men opt for vasectomy, while female sterilization continues to dominate at ~38%. This skew speaks volumes about the deeply entrenched gender norms that place the burden of family planning squarely on women’s shoulders. Moreover, a 9.4% unmet need for contraception persists—worse in rural, poor, and adolescent groups. The data is screaming, but are we listening?
And what about adolescent girls—the future mothers? Nearly 59% of them are anaemic, and 23.3% are still married before the age of 19. The cycle of early marriage, early pregnancy, and poor nutrition persists, perpetuating intergenerational inequities. Even with schemes like RKSK (Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram), many adolescent girls remain untouched by services meant for them.
Then comes the issue of vaccination equity. The HPV vaccine, a critical tool in preventing cervical cancer, remains inaccessible to millions of adolescent girls due to cost constraints. With just a handful of states including it in their Program Implementation Plans (PIPs), the dream of universal coverage remains distant. The challenge isn’t only scientific—it’s budgetary and political. If we are serious about eliminating cervical cancer, we must increase allocations for adolescent health, make HPV vaccines affordable, and ensure school and community-based delivery models.
On May 28, as we celebrate international milestones and national achievements, we must not forget that behind every statistic is a woman—with aspirations, anxieties, and agency. We owe her more than applause. We owe her a system that sees her as whole: body, mind, and voice.
This International Women’s Health Day, let’s move from celebration to action. Let’s depoliticize abortion, destigmatize postpartum depression, demand dignity in delivery, and decentralize nutrition and contraceptive choices.
Because women’s health is not just a women’s issue—it is a national priority. And the time to act is now.
About the contributor: Dr. Manorama Bakshi is the Director & Head of Healthcare & Advocacy at Consocia Advisory, Founder of the Triloki Raj Foundation, and a public health strategist with two decades of experience working across government, multilateral agencies, and grassroots movements.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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Acknowledgment: This article was posted by Bhaktiba Jadeja, visiting researcher and assistant editor at IMPRI.
