A Visionary IAS Officer's Mission To Revolutionize Maternal Healthcare In Odisha

In the remote villages of Ganjam, Odisha, where healthcare infrastructure remains sparse, an extraordinary initiative is transforming maternal health outcomes. For years, pregnant women in these rural pockets faced immense challenges—traveling long distances to access ultrasound facilities, struggling with financial constraints, and often foregoing critical prenatal care. The consequences were devastating: undiagnosed complications, high maternal mortality, and preventable neonatal deaths. However, thanks to a pioneering initiative spearheaded by IAS officer Dibyajyoti Parida, the landscape of maternal healthcare is undergoing a monumental shift.

The Birth of Nirikhyana: A Lifeline for Pregnant Women

In November 2022, recognizing the glaring gap in diagnostic services for expectant mothers, Parida conceptualized the Nirikhyana initiative, a program that would provide free ultrasound services to pregnant women across the district. By 2023, the initiative had been fully launched, setting a new benchmark in maternal and child healthcare in India.

At its core, Nirikhyana seeks to eliminate barriers preventing pregnant women from accessing essential diagnostic services. It is a well-structured, multi-faceted approach that integrates government support, private partnerships, technological intervention, and community participation to provide seamless prenatal care to the most underserved.

How Nirikhyana Works?

Nirikhyana operates through a well-coordinated public-private partnership, leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of both government and private diagnostic centers. With 42 government-run and privately managed clinics CSRcoming under this initiative, expectant mothers can now access ultrasound services within their blocks, significantly reducing travel burdens and associated risks.

The Nirikhyana mobile application has been instrumental in ensuring seamless coordination. Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) register pregnant women on the app, enabling doctors to track their progress and refer them for timely ultrasounds. The app facilitates communication and acts as a real-time monitoring system that allows immediate interventions when high-risk pregnancies are detected.

Under the initiative, a proactive three-tier system has been developed to detect high-risk pregnancies 20 to 25 days before the due date. This early identification allows healthcare providers to intervene swiftly, offering timely treatment and significantly reducing maternal deaths, stillbirths, and child mortality rates.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Nirikhyana is its commitment to breaking the financial barriers that prevent many women from seeking proper medical care. Given that women's healthcare is often deprioritized in patriarchal societies, and ultrasounds are still perceived as a luxury in many rural households, this initiative ensures that every pregnant woman receives these services free of charge. In Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) areas, free transportation has also been arranged to bring women to diagnostic centers, further bridging the accessibility gap.

Funding a Health Revolution

The project operates through a strategic financial model, drawing from multiple sources, including the National Health Mission, district mineral funds, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) budgets. To date, the district has allocated Rs 20 lakh to ensure the smooth implementation of Nirikhyana, proving that impactful healthcare reforms are achievable even within existing resource frameworks.

Measurable Impact: A Transformation in Maternal Health

The numbers tell an incredible story of success:

• Unprecedented Increase in Ultrasound Utilization: Before Nirikhyana, less than 30% of registered pregnant women underwent ultrasound tests. Today, this number has skyrocketed to 128.6%, ensuring that almost every expectant mother receives critical prenatal imaging.

  
  

• Enhanced High-Risk Pregnancy Detection: Before the initiative, only 4% of pregnancies were identified as high-risk. Now, 25% of high-risk pregnancies are detected in time, allowing for appropriate medical interventions.

  
  

• Drastic Reduction in Mortality Rates: The maternal mortality rate (MMR) has dropped from 97 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021-22 to 69 in 2023-24. The neonatal mortality rate has also been halved, falling from 18 to 9 over the same period. These statistics underscore the life-saving potential of timely and accessible prenatal care.

  
  

Looking to the Future: AI-Powered Interventions

Encouraged by the resounding success of Nirikhyana, the next phase of the initiative seeks to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to further enhance healthcare delivery. AI-powered algorithms will automatically analyze medical data, flag high-risk cases, and send instant alerts to healthcare providers. This will ensure faster interventions, improved maternal health tracking, and even more efficient allocation of medical resources.

A Model for the Nation

What Nirikhyana has achieved in Odisha is not just a localized success story but a blueprint for maternal healthcare transformation across India. Dibyajyoti Parida’s initiative has set a precedent that other districts and states can replicate by demonstrating the power of innovative thinking, strategic partnerships, and technology-driven solutions. The ripple effect of such initiatives could be monumental, leading to a nationwide decline in maternal and neonatal mortality rates.

In a country where maternal health often takes a backseat, Nirikhyana is not just an initiative — it is a movement, a promise, and a testament to the power of committed leadership in shaping a healthier future for women and children. As the program evolves, one thing is certain: the silent revolution that began in Ganjam will echo far beyond its borders, inspiring a new era of inclusive and accessible healthcare.