‘MaherGhar’: A scheme that provides room to expectant mothers at PHCs has few takers
In 2011, the state started the scheme under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to contain the high maternal and neonatal mortalities. Under the scheme, one room or 'maher ghar', which translates to ‘mother’s house’, is constructed on the premises of the PHCs.
In 2020-21, amid the pandemic, the number of beneficiaries rose to 2,806. But in 2021-22, the registration of women under the scheme dropped to 2,131. As of 2022-23 (till December), the 90 centres across the districts recorded only 1,788 beneficiaries.
In tribal-dominated Nandurbar’s Son village, nearly 400 km from Mumbai, access to healthcare remains a challenge, resulting in maternal deaths. Not surprisingly, Renuka Paware (23) preferred to deliver at home, rather than going to Son’s Primary Health Centre (PHC), where pregnant women can stay in a separate room for six days under the MaherGhar scheme to avoid health complications during childbirth. She is not the only one to have not benefited from the scheme. In the last three years, the PHC located in Dhadgaon taluka, which recorded five maternal deaths in 2021-22 — the second highest in the district — didn’t cater to a single mother under the scheme. The situation is same across the district where annually around 30,000 deliveries are recorded. Out of the 10 PHCs under the scheme in Nandurbar, only 522 pregnant women benefited between 2019-20 and 2022-23 (till December).
In 2011, the state started the scheme under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to contain the high maternal and neonatal mortalities. Under the scheme, one room or ‘maher ghar’, which translates to ‘mother’s house’, is constructed on the premises of the PHCs. Pregnant women are admitted in the ‘maher ghar’ four to five days before their expected date of delivery. “She is examined daily by the medical officer of the PHC. When labour starts, the woman is shifted to the PHC for delivery. If any complications are detected during the waiting period or during labour, the pregnant mother is transported to a suitable referral centre,” reads the statement of the state government.
But data shows the scheme fails to meet its objectives.
Also, there has been a slight drop in the beneficiaries. This is despite increasing the number of centres from 52 to 90 in nine districts — Thane, Nashik, Nandurbar, Nanded, Amravati, Yavatmal, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli — where the scheme is being implemented presently in Maharashtra.
In 2019-20, a total of 2,646 tribal women were assisted at the centres. In 2020-21, amid the pandemic, the number of beneficiaries rose to 2,806. But in 2021-22, the registration of women under the scheme dropped to 2,131. As of 2022-23 (till December), the 90 centres across the districts recorded only 1,788 beneficiaries.
To popularise the scheme, the state government had also announced that families would get Rs 200 per day as wage compensation for staying at the centre with the mothers. But often, there are delays in the disbursement of the amount and many don’t even get it. “My husband is a farmer and we have five mouths to feed. So, he can’t afford to stay with me for six days at the centre. Also, I have heard that many women don’t even get the compensation money,” said Renuka, who within three days of her delivery in December 2022 joined her husband on the field to earn the extra Rs 150 per day.
Bandu Sane, chairman of NGO Khoj, Melghat, said staffers don’t pay adequate attention to the admitted patients which further discourages others. “The staffers lack dedication…they don’t behave properly with pregnant women. Also, there is a lack of sensitisation and training among the healthcare workers,” he said.
In fact, in districts like Palghar, the ‘maher ghar’ are lying dysfunctional. For instance, in the district, out of the 13 designated centres, five are closed. Sneha Gharat, from NGO Samarthan in Palghar, which filed the RTI, said, “These tribal districts don’t even have pukka roads where ambulances can travel during medical emergencies. So, if implemented properly, the scheme would have benefited women and saved many lives. The government should look into the matter and fill up the loopholes.”
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