Asma, a migrant woman from Assam, 5 months pregnant, represents the struggles many women face when navigating pregnancy in an unfamiliar city. Moving to Bengaluru’s Siddapura Labour Colony, she found herself isolated and unaware of how to access maternity services due to lack of information about the Public health centres, unfamiliarity with the language and cultural barriers. Asma had not received any immunization and faced serious risks in her maternal health that could lead to complications or even maternal and infant mortality.
Her story reflects a broader issue. Between April and December 2024, Karnataka recorded 464 maternal deaths—70% of which were preventable. The majority of these deaths occurred in women aged 19 to 30, many of whom suffered from treatable conditions like anaemia, hypertension, and gestational diabetes. These findings have pushed the Karnataka government to strengthen its maternal health response to reduce maternal mortality from 57 to 19 by 2026.
One of the flagship initiatives supporting this goal is the Thayi Bhagya scheme, which ensures free institutional deliveries, medical checkups, and medications for pregnant women. Women enrolled receive an antenatal Mother Card (Thaayi Card), which also enables access to central schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), offering financial support for pregnant and lactating women. However, for many migrants like Asma, barriers such as mobility, lack of documentation, and poor awareness make it difficult to benefit from these schemes.
Sampark bridges this gap through its 27 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Centres across Bengaluru. Sampark identifies and supports pregnant and lactating women from migrant communities. In the last 3 years, Sampark has helped over 250 migrant women to access the Thayi Bhagya scheme, connecting them to local Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and ensuring they were formally recognized by the public healthcare system and received their timely pre and post-natal care and medicines.
This last mile support has impacted:
● Access to Free Institutional Deliveries: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), who conduct regular check-ups and immunizations for migrant women who are now giving birth in hospitals. This shift has reduced maternal and neonatal risks by promoting safer deliveries.
● Improved Health Outcomes: Better outcomes for both mothers and children due to early identification and treatment of high-risk conditions like anaemia and gestational diabetes.
● Empowerment Through Awareness: Through community-based outreach, women are more informed about their health rights and available services, enabling them to make better healthcare decisions.
● Reduced Financial Stress: The burden of medical expenses during pregnancy and childbirth is significantly lessened, providing critical relief to low-income migrant families.
Asma’s life took a positive turn after attending a Parent-Teacher Meeting at Sampark’s Siddapura ECCE Centre. There, she learned about Thayi Bhagya and reached out to the ECCE teacher for guidance. With Sampark’s support, she enrolled in the scheme and is now receiving maternal healthcare at a nearby PHC, completely free of cost. As Karnataka intensifies its efforts to tackle maternal mortality, community-based last-mile support initiatives like those led by Sampark are proving essential. Our work shows what is possible when policy and grassroots action come together. Sampark remains committed to scaling up these efforts, ensuring that every pregnant woman—no matter where she comes from—can access the care, support, and dignity she deserves. Together, we can build a future where safe motherhood is a reality for all.
