Page 27 - NIS ENGLISH 1-15 May, 2026

New India and
Women-led
Leadership
Cover Story
Antenatal Care – The First Step

Towards Safe Motherhood Sex Ratio at Birth
(per 1,000 girls) 929
n The Central Government launched the Pradhan 918
Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)
in 2016 to provide free, reliable, comprehensive, 2014-15 2024-25
and quality antenatal care to pregnant women.
n Over 7 crore women have benefited from this Vaccination: Protecting Mothers
and Newborns
initiative as of June 2025.
n Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014.
n Services under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit
Matritva Abhiyan are currently being provided at n The objective is to ensure universal immunisation
over 22,000 health centres. coverage for everyone, including pregnant women.
1.15 under a free HPV vaccination campaign
Jal Jeevan Mission crore Girls aged 14 years were targeted
that was launched nationwide from Ajmer,
Rajasthan, on February 28, 2026.
15.84 Crore (81.71%) n The objective is to prevent cervical cancer, which
households now receive
tap water supply (as of
March 3, 2026). is the second most common cancer among
women in the country.
n A World Health Organisation (WHO) study
indicates that providing tap water to every rural
household will result in significant time savings
(5.5 crore hours per day) previously spent on
collecting water, particularly for women, as they
perform three-quarters of this task.
n An SBI study indicates an 8.3 percent decline
in the number of households that fetch water
from outside sources. Approximately 90 million
women no longer need to fetch water. The
participation of women in agriculture and allied
activities has increased by 7.4 percent.

MSMEs active on the GeM (Government e-Marketplace) leadership fosters inclusivity, and their ideas drive positive
portal. With the objective of providing better market access change. The most effective approach to empowering women
to products created by Self-Help Groups and rural women, is a women-led development model. India has taken decisive
the 'SHE-Mart' initiative was introduced in the Union Budget steps in this direction. India’s President, Droupadi Murmu,
2026-27. Under this initiative, community-operated retail stands as an inspiring example in her own right. She hails
outlets will be established in every district. The labor codes from a humble tribal background, yet she now leads the
implemented last year include provisions designed to ensure world's largest democracy. She serves as the Command-
a more inclusive, safe, and empowering work environment er-in-Chief of the world's second-largest defense force.
for women workers. Numerous initiatives related to women's safety have been
undertaken at the national level with the specific objective of
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND A SECURE providing women with a secure environment and ensuring
ENVIRONMENT their equal participation in the nation's development. Today,
When women are safe and prosperous, the world, too, the country's priority lies in improving the lives of women
prospers. Their economic empowerment fuels development, and ensuring their full participation in India's developmental
and their access to education inspires global progress. Their journey. Treating sons and daughters as equals, the Central

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