**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Government of India's response to Unstarred Question No. 2091 in the Lok Sabha, regarding the Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) Initiative. It provides data on the reach and impact of the initiative, including the number of women and newborns receiving zero-cost services, the assessment of its effect on mortality rates, and steps taken to expand its coverage, with specific focus on Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. The response is scheduled to be answered on December 12, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **SUMAN Initiative Overview:**
* SUMAN provides zero-cost services to pregnant women and sick newborns.
* **Impact Assessment (NITI Aayog Evaluation):**
* Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) of Health sector were evaluated by NITI Aayog in September 2025.
* SUMAN aligns with global health priorities, specifically Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
* High levels of satisfaction reported: approximately 92% of respondents felt they were treated with respect during delivery, and two-thirds expressed satisfaction with care.
* **Mortality Rate Reduction:**
* **Madhya Pradesh:** Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) decreased from 163 (2017-19) to 142 (2021-23) per lakh live births; Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) decreased from 33 (2019) to 27 (2023) per 1000 live births.
* **Maharashtra:** MMR decreased from 38 (2017-19) to 36 (2021-23) per lakh live births; NMR decreased from 23 (2019) to 11 (2023) per 1000 live births.
* **Expansion of SUMAN Reach:**
* The Government of India is expanding the reach of SUMAN across the country including remote and tribal areas.
* Popularizing the scheme through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategies including mass media.
* Field level workers like ANMs, ASHAs and CHOs are engaged for programme promotion at the ground level through interpersonal communication.
* A system of regular supportive supervisory visits to monitor the various components of SUMAN initiative is also in place across the country.
* **Interventions in Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency (Madhya Pradesh):**
* SUMAN Help Desks established in District Hospitals.
* Sickle Cell screening and management initiated.
* Birth Waiting Homes established in 6 CHC and above Health facilities.
* 45 health facilities certified under NQAS.
* Obstetric HDU/ICU established in DH Sidhi and DH Singrauli.
* **Mobile Health Units in Gujarat:**
* 3 Mobile Health Units and 3 Mobile Medical Units are operational to provide maternal health services as per SUMAN guidelines in remote and tribal areas of Dahod.
* **Data on Zero-Cost Services and Facilities:**
* Annexure provides data on pregnant women and newborns receiving zero-cost services under JSSK.
* Number of SUMAN notified facilities as of November 30, 2025.
* Specific figures are provided for Madhya Pradesh (including Dewas and Shajapur districts) and Gujarat (including Dahod district).
**Impact Analysis**
**Pregnant Women and Sick Newborns**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of the SUMAN initiative receive zero-cost maternal and newborn health services.
* **Action Required:** Continue to utilize available services and provide feedback on the quality of care received.
**Health Facilities and Healthcare Providers**
* **Impact:** Health facilities participating in SUMAN are required to provide services according to SUMAN guidelines.
* **Action Required:** Comply with SUMAN guidelines, provide data for monitoring, and participate in quality improvement programs.
**Government of India and State Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for monitoring and expanding the reach of the SUMAN initiative to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement strategies to increase coverage, improve service quality, and conduct regular assessments of the initiative's impact.
**Residents of Sidhi Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of the increased support for maternal health.
* **Action Required:** Engage with local healthcare providers and utilize available resources.
Key Entities Referenced
Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) Initiative: A health initiative aimed at providing zero-cost services to pregnant women and sick newborns.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The government ministry responsible for implementing and overseeing SUMAN and other health-related programs.
NITI Aayog: Government think-tank that conducted an evaluation study of SUMAN and other Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the Health sector in September 2025.
Madhya Pradesh: One of the states where the impact of SUMAN is being assessed and expanded. Specific districts (Dewas, Shajapur) are highlighted.
Gujarat: One of the states where the impact of SUMAN is being assessed and expanded. Specific districts (Dahod) are highlighted.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2091
TO BE ANSWERED ON12th DECEMBER, 2025
SURAKSHIT MATRITVAAASHWASAN(SUMAN) INITIATIVE
2091 SHRIMAHENDRASINGH SOLANKY:
SHRIJASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:
DR. RAJESH MISHRA:
SMT.APARAJITASARANGI:
DR. BHOLASINGH:
DR. NISHIKANTDUBEY:
SHRIDULU MAHATO:
SHRIPRADEEPKUMAR SINGH:
SHRIALOK SHARMA:
SHRIJUGALKISHORE:
SHRIJAGDAMBIKAPAL:
SHRIBHARATSINHJISHANKARJI DABHI:
SHRIYOGENDER CHANDOLIA:
SHRIJANARDAN MISHRA:
SHRITATKARE SUNILDATTATREY:
SHRIRAJKUMAR CHAHAR:
DR. PRASHANTYADAORAO PADOLE:
SMT.SMITAUDAYWAGH:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the latest number of pregnant women and sick newborns who have received zero-cost
services under the Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) initiative during the last year
along with the number of certified health facilities participating in the scheme in Madhya
Pradeshparticularly inDewas andShajapurdistricts andDahod district of Gujarat;
(b) whether any assessment has been undertaken by the Government regarding the impact of
SUMAN on Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) and facility-
based care uptake for the region;
(c) if so, the details and the key findings thereof including the positive changes recorded in
MMR/NMR in the districts under SUMAN particularly in aspirational and high-burden,
districts of Madhya PradeshandMaharashtra;
(d) the steps taken by the Government to further expand the reach of SUMAN into remote or
tribal areas of the country, State-wise including tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh and
Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh;(e) the details of impact of the said scheme in the Sidhi Lok Sabha Parliamentary
Constituency; and
(f) whether special mobile health units are being deployed to increase SUMAN coverage in
extremely remote and tribal areas of Dahod such as Garbhada, Limkheda and Singwada,
Gujarat,if so the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a)The numberof pregnantwomen andsick new-bornswhoreceivedzero-cost servicesunder
SurakshitMatritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) initiativeduring lastyear, alongwiththe numberof
certifiedhealthfacilitiesparticipating inthe scheme inMadhya PradeshparticularlyinDewas
andShajapurdistricts andDahod districtof Gujaratisplacedat theAnnexure.
(b) and (c) An evaluation study of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) of Health sector was
conducted by NITI Aayog in September 2025. Under the study, maternal and child health
schemes, including SUMAN, were assessed and quantitative and qualitative data was
collectedandanalysed. The keyfindingsof the study are follows:
Under SUMAN Initiative, antenatal and postnatal care programs closely align with
the globalhealthpriorities, particularlythe SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs).
Around 92% respondents reported they were treated with respect and dignity during
institutional delivery.
Two-third of the respondents indicated high level of satisfaction with the care
received.
As per the latest Sample Registration System (SRS), in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the
Maternal Mortality Ratio(MMR) hasreduced from 163perlakhlive birthsin2017-19 to142
per lakh live birthsin 2021-23.The Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has declined from 33 per
100live birthsin2019to27per1000live birthsin2023.
In the state of Maharashtra, the MMR shows reduction from 38 per lakh live births in 2017-
19 to 36 per lakh live births in 2021-23 and NMR decreased from 23 per 1000 live births in
2019to11 per1000live birthsin2023.
(d) The Government of India has taken following steps to expand the reach of various
components of SUMAN initiative, across the country, including the remote & tribal areas of
Madhya PradeshandBulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh:
Popularizing the scheme through Information, Education and Communication (IEC)
andBehaviourChange Communication (BCC) strategiesincludingmass media. Field level workers like ANMs, ASHAs and CHOs are engaged for programme
promotionat the ground level through interpersonal communication.
A system of regular supportive supervisory visits to monitor the various components
of SUMAN intiativeisalso inplace across the country.
(e) As per the report received from State of Madhya Pradesh, a series of intervention have
been initiated in Sidhi Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency to improve service coverage
underSUMAN, which are asfollows;
SUMAN Help Desk established in the District Hospital Sidhi and Singrauli of Sidhi
Parliamentary constituency
SickleCell screening andmanagementinitiated
Birth Waiting Homes established in 6 CHC and above Health facilities of Sidhi
Parliamentary constituency
45healthfacilities certifiedunderNQAS inSidhiParliamentary constituency
Obstetric HDU/ICU established in DH Sidhiand DH Singrauli of SidhiParliamentary
constituency
(f) As per the inputs received from the State of Gujarat, currently 3 Mobile Health Units and
3 Mobile Medical Units are operational to provide maternal health services as per SUMAN
guidelines in extremely remote and tribal areas of Dahod such as Garbhada, Limkheda and
Singwada,Gujarat.Annexure referred in reply to part (a) of Lok SabhaUnstarred Qn.2091 to beanswered
on12.12.2025
Annexure
The number of pregnant women and sick infants who received zero-cost services under
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) scheme, within the ambit of SUMAN initiative,
during the last year(2024-25) alongwith the numberof certifiedhealthfacilities participating
in the scheme in Madhya Pradesh particularly in Dewas and Shajapur districts and Dahod
district of Gujarat.
Total no.of Pregnant Total no.of Sicknew- Total no.of SUMAN
Name of Womenwhoreceived borns whoreceived notified facilitiesas
theState freeservices* freeservices* on30.11.25**
Madhya Pradesh- Madhya Pradesh- Madhya Pradesh-
Madhya 12,26,774 1,35,374 12,814
Pradesh Dewas-13,758 Dewas-690 Dewas-252
Shajapur-13,453 Shajapur-10,213 Shajapur-157
Gujarat-7,47,495 Gujarat-1,37,651 Gujarat-5,819
Gujarat
Dahod-26,902 Dahod-7,036 Dahod-100
Source:*HMIS; **State report
******