Government schemes for mothers in India - maternal health programsIndia's top 9 government schemes providing free healthcare, nutrition and financial support to pregnant women and new mothers.

Government Schemes for Mothers in India
Government of India — Maternal Welfare

Schemes for Mothers in India

Complete contact guide — whom to approach, where to go, and official websites for all 9 schemes

Scheme-wise Details & Contacts

Happy Mother’s Day 2026 — Know your rights, access your benefits

🚨 National Helplines for Pregnant Women

Available 24×7 for emergencies, transport, and health queries

📞 102 — Maternal Ambulance 📞 108 — Emergency Ambulance 📞 1800-180-1104 — NHP Health Helpline
1
ICDS / Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0

Anganwadi Services

Since 1975

India’s largest grassroots maternal & child welfare programme — provides nutrition, immunisation, health check-ups, referral services, nutrition education, and pre-school education to children (0–6 yrs), pregnant women, and lactating mothers through local Anganwadi centres.

Whom to Contact
  • Local Anganwadi Worker (AWW) at your nearest Anganwadi Centre
  • Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) at Block level
  • District Programme Officer (DPO) at district level
Where to Go
  • Nearest Anganwadi Centre in your village/ward
  • Block CDPO office for grievances
  • District WCD office for escalations
Eligibility & Documents
Open to all — no income bar. Aadhaar card (mother’s for child registration). Register at nearest centre.
Key Benefits
Supplementary nutrition, free immunisation, health check-ups, referral services, nutrition counselling, pre-school education.
Contact & Web Resources
🌐 wcd.nic.in 🌐 icds-wcd.nic.in 🌐 poshantracker.in 📞 1800-180-1104 📍 Ministry of Women & Child Development, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi
2
RMNCH+A

Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health Framework

2013

A comprehensive strategic framework under the National Health Mission that provides end-to-end care across the life cycle — from adolescence through pregnancy, childbirth, newborn, and child health. It ensures continuity of care at PHCs, CHCs, and district hospitals.

Whom to Contact
  • ASHA worker in your village
  • ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) at Sub-Health Centre
  • Medical Officer at PHC/CHC
Where to Go
  • Sub-Health Centre (SHC) — first point
  • Primary Health Centre (PHC)
  • Community Health Centre (CHC)
  • District Hospital for specialist care
Five Pillars of Care
Reproductive Health · Maternal Health · Neonatal Health · Child Health · Adolescent Health
Key Benefits
Minimum 4 antenatal check-ups, skilled birth attendance, 3+ postnatal visits, newborn care, immunisation, adolescent health programs.
Contact & Web Resources
🌐 nhm.gov.in 🌐 mohfw.gov.in 📞 108 (Emergency) 📞 102 (Maternal Transport) 📍 State NHM office / nearest PHC or CHC
3
SUMAN — Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan

SUMAN Scheme

Oct 2019

Umbrella scheme combining JSSK, PMSMA, and LaQshya under one platform. Guarantees free, dignified, respectful maternal and newborn healthcare with zero tolerance for denial of services at any public health facility. Covers pregnant women, newborns (0–6 months), and lactating mothers up to 6 months post-delivery.

Whom to Contact
  • Facility Help Desk at high-case-load hospitals
  • ASHA worker for home-level support
  • Chief Medical Officer for district-level issues
Where to Go
  • Any government health facility (PHC, CHC, DH, SDH, UPHC)
  • 90,015+ notified SUMAN facilities across India
How to Register / Complain
SMS “SUMAN <your name>” to 5616115
Grievance form on portal below
Key Benefits
Free ANC, free delivery/C-section, free transport, free newborn care, breastfeeding support, zero-cost vaccinations, home-based newborn visits.
Contact & Web Resources
🌐 suman.nhp.gov.in 📝 File Grievance 📱 SMS 5616115 📞 102 (Transport) 📍 Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi
4
JSY — Janani Suraksha Yojana

Janani Suraksha Yojana

Apr 2005

Cash transfer scheme under the National Health Mission to promote institutional deliveries, especially among poor and marginalised women. ASHA workers act as the key link between beneficiaries and the scheme. Has benefitted over 11 crore women as of 2025.

Whom to Contact
  • ASHA worker in your village — primary point for registration & cash disbursement
  • ANM at Sub-Health Centre
  • Medical Officer at PHC/CHC/Government Hospital
Where to Go
  • Any Government health facility
  • Accredited private hospitals (empanelled under NHM)
  • Contact ASHA at home for registration
Cash Assistance (varies by state)
Low Performing States (e.g. UP, Bihar, Rajasthan): ₹1,400 rural / ₹1,000 urban
High Performing States (e.g. Kerala, TN): ₹700 rural / ₹600 urban
ASHA also receives incentive of ₹200–600 per case
Eligibility
All pregnant women in Low Performing States. BPL / SC / ST women in High Performing States. Delivery must be in a registered government or accredited private facility.
Contact & Web Resources
🌐 NHM JSY Page 🌐 mohfw.gov.in 📞 1800-180-1104 📞 102 (Ambulance) 📍 Your local ASHA / PHC / State NHM office
5
JSSK — Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram

Jun 2011

Entitles every pregnant woman delivering in a government hospital to completely free, cashless care — including delivery, medicines, diagnostics, food, and transport. Expanded in 2013 to cover postnatal complications up to 42 days post-delivery and sick infants up to 1 year. Over 16.6 crore beneficiaries served since 2014–15.

Whom to Contact
  • Any government hospital — walk in directly, no referral needed
  • ASHA / ANM for transport arrangement (call 102)
  • Medical Superintendent if services are denied
Where to Go
  • PHC, CHC, Sub-District Hospital
  • District Hospital
  • Government Medical College hospitals
  • Urban health facilities (UPHC)
Complete Free Entitlements
  • Free normal & C-section delivery
  • Free medicines & consumables
  • Free diagnostics (blood tests, scans)
  • Free blood transfusion
  • Free diet: 3 days (normal) / 7 days (C-sec)
  • Free transport — home to hospital
  • Free inter-facility referral transport
  • Free drop-back home after discharge
  • Free care for sick newborns (0–30 days)
  • Free sick infant care up to 1 year of age
  • Free ANC & PNC complication management
6
PMSMA — Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan

PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan

Jun 2016

Free specialist antenatal check-up on the 9th of every month at government facilities. Focuses on identifying high-risk pregnancies early. Over 6.19 crore pregnant women examined to date. Includes an E-PMSMA digital tracking system for high-risk pregnancy follow-up.

Whom to Contact
  • OB-GY Specialist or Medical Officer at nearest PMSMA camp
  • ASHA worker for appointment guidance
  • Private doctors can volunteer — call 1800-180-1104
Where to Go
  • PHC, CHC, Sub-District Hospital, District Hospital
  • Urban health facilities
  • Visit on 9th of every month
  • Find nearest facility via PMSMA app / website
Services on the 9th
Specialist doctor check-up · Blood investigations · Ultrasound (USG) · IFA & calcium supplements · High-risk pregnancy detection & management · Birth planning counselling
Technical Queries & Grievances
Email: pmsma_helpdesk@nihfw.org
Toll-free: 1800-180-1104
Doctors register via portal or call
Contact & Web Resources
🌐 pmsma.nhp.gov.in 📝 Contact / Grievance 📞 1800-180-1104 ✉️ pmsma_helpdesk@nihfw.org 📱 Download ‘PMSMA’ App
7
LaQshya — Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative

LaQshya Programme

Dec 2017

Targets quality improvement in labour rooms and maternity OTs at government hospitals. Facilities are assessed and certified (Platinum/Gold/Silver) under National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS). Ensures mothers receive respectful, skilled, safe care during delivery and immediate postpartum.

Whom to Contact
  • Labour Room staff at government hospital
  • Medical Superintendent for quality concerns
  • State NHM Quality Assurance Cell for certification queries
Where to Go
  • Government Medical College hospitals
  • District Hospitals
  • High case-load CHCs (100+ deliveries/month)
  • First Referral Units (FRUs)
What It Improves
Labour room infrastructure · Essential equipment · Skilled staff availability · Adherence to clinical guidelines · Respectful maternity care · Safe delivery practices
Digital Tools
LaQshya Web Portal — facility-level data & dashboards
Safe Delivery App — job aid & training tool for health workers
Contact & Web Resources
🌐 laqshya.nhp.gov.in 🌐 NHM LaQshya Page 📞 1800-180-1104 (NHM Helpline) 📍 State NHM Quality Assurance Cell / District Hospital
8
NPM — Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery

Midwifery Initiative

Dec 2018

Establishes a cadre of certified Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery (NPMs) trained to ICM (International Confederation of Midwives) standards. Aims to provide midwifery-led, women-centred, respectful care — promoting natural birthing and reducing unnecessary medical interventions. Training provided at NMTIs and SMTIs.

Whom to Contact
  • Certified Nurse Practitioner in Midwifery (NPM) at government facilities
  • Nursing Superintendent at district hospitals
  • Indian Nursing Council for training queries
Where to Go
  • Government hospitals with certified midwifery units
  • National Midwifery Training Institutes (NMTIs)
  • State Midwifery Training Institutes (SMTIs)
Services Provided
Antenatal care · Labour support · Normal delivery assistance · Postnatal care · Breastfeeding guidance · Emotional & psychological support
Training Institutions
Indian Nursing Council (INC) sets the curriculum.
NMTIs and SMTIs across states conduct 18-month NPM programmes.
Contact & Web Resources
🌐 nhm.gov.in 🌐 indiannursingcouncil.org 🌐 mohfw.gov.in 📍 Ministry of Health & Family Welfare / State NHM Nursing Division
9
Optimizing Postnatal Care Initiative

Postnatal Care Initiative

Jun 2023

Launched after the January 2023 Chief Secretaries’ Conference to sharpen postnatal surveillance and reduce maternal mortality in the weeks after delivery. Focuses on home visits by ASHAs, early detection of danger signs, and financial incentivisation of ASHAs for tracking high-risk postpartum mothers.

Whom to Contact
  • ASHA worker — conducts home visits after delivery
  • ANM at Sub-Health Centre for follow-up
  • Medical Officer at PHC for complications
Where to Go / How It Works
  • ASHA visits your home after discharge
  • High-risk mothers tracked to 45th day post-delivery
  • Referral to PHC/CHC if danger signs found
Postnatal Danger Signs to Report
Heavy bleeding · High fever · Swelling of limbs · Severe headache · Difficulty breathing · Inability to breastfeed · Infant not gaining weight — Call 102 or ASHA immediately.
ASHA Incentives Under This Initiative
ASHAs receive ₹100 per visit (up to 3 follow-up visits) for high-risk postpartum mothers, and ₹500 for healthy outcome on 45th day — to encourage diligent tracking.
Contact & Web Resources
🌐 NHM Maternal Health 🌐 mohfw.gov.in 📞 102 (Transport) 📞 108 (Emergency) 📍 Contact your ASHA or nearest PHC after delivery

By CHANDRA

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