The Antara Foundation Blog

“Many girls in my class have dropped out this year, but I will complete my studies,” says 15-year old Vimal with a bright smile.  “I want to be a police officer when I grow up. I want to do something which will make everyone in the village proud of me” she says. Others in the group of about 15 girls slowly speak up as well, and each reveals a similar ambition. Some want to be teachers, others want to be nurses, but almost all of them express a desire to make a difference by serving the communities they live in. When we tell them, about Akshada, the maternal and child health program that we run in Rajasthan, they are quick to respond with interesting questions and observations they have on the topic. “Kya aap tika-karan karwaenge” (will you get children immunized); “garbhvasta mei hari sabzi khani chahiye (one should eat green vegetables during pregnancy); “kya aap unn bachon ka illaj karenge jinka vazan kam hai (will you treat those children who weigh less)? They wer

Ashok Alexander More than a million children under-five die every year in India from largely preventable illnesses. Of the ones who survive, some thirty per cent are malnourished. Many women don’t get good care when pregnant, when they deliver, or after they give birth. There is improvement, and states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Himachal show the way. Others, like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, are tackling the problem. But the fact remains: India’s maternal and child record is one of the world’s worst. Ironically, India’s public health system is well designed, and potentially, has great reach. Every last village and hamlet in India is covered by a health facility. There are three health/childcare workers for every such unit – higher than in most countries. There are visionary, grass roots health programs. Health spending is low, overall—but many states don’t spend all their funds. Reach, design nor funding is the real problem. It is far more complex.  A woman just may not