Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
4. Examine the causes for high Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in certain parts of India despite various governmental measures aimed towards reducing it. What further measures are needed to tackle it? (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Researchers from the International Institute for Population Sciences triangulated data from routine records of maternal deaths under the Health Management Information System, with Census data and the Sample Registration System (SRS) to provide the MMR for all States and districts of India. The analysis suggests that 70% of districts (448 out of 640 districts) in India have reported MMR above 70 deaths — a target under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the high MMR in certain parts and measures needed to tackle it.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by giving statistic regarding MMR in India and how it is relatively high in certain parts of the country.
Body:
Frist, write about the various measures against MMR – LaQshya, Poshan Abhiyan, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan Initiative (SUMAN) etc.
Next, write the reasons why there are high trends of MMR in India despite above measures.
Next, write about the measures that are needed to reduce mortality rates in low performing states.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward.
