9-May-2023: Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) complete 8 years of providing social security cover

As we celebrate the 8th anniversaries of the three social security (Jan Suraksha) schemes — Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY), let us recount how these schemes have enabled affordable insurance and security to people (Jan Suraksha), their achievements and salient features.

PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY were launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 9th May, 2015 from Kolkata, West Bengal.

The three schemes are dedicated to the welfare of the citizens, recognising the need for securing human life from unforeseen eventualities and financial uncertainties. In order to ensure that the people from the unorganised section of the country are financially secure, the Government launched two insurance schemes —PMJJBY and PMSBY; and also introduced APY to cover the exigencies in the old age.

18-Apr-2023: Ayush sector all set to provide efficient, holistic, affordable and quality health services through “Ayush Grid” and Artificial Intelligence

The second day of 2nd Health Working Group meeting under G20 India Presidency saw an important brainstorming session on citizen centric health delivery ecosystem for universal health coverage leveraging digital health and innovation. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush in his inaugural address in the side event emphasized on an integrative holistic healthcare model of service delivery through comprehensive IT backbone for Traditional Medicine “Ayush Grid” and by ensuring the benchmarking of AI in Traditional Medicine with the guidance and support of UN bodies.

Vaidya Kotecha further said that there is need to advocate the use of digital tools for not only the efficiency and outcome of healthcare system but also to maintain the medical records, exchange information and extrapolate the effectiveness of various modalities of healthcare including; but not limited to pharmaco-therapeutic interventions, traditional medicine based approaches and other innovations. He said that the upcoming WHO - Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India has one of the mandates to work on data analytics and technology in Traditional medicine. This will suffice the infusion of data and technology in TM in coming future.

The secretary also participated in the panel discussion on creation of Digital Health Ecosystem: Moving towards harmonised & efficient health-data governance frameworks.  He spoke about the crucial aspect of digital health which is ever increasing and ubiquitous use of artificial intelligence in health care including traditional medicine.

Shri Kotecha said there is a need to catch up with the development of benchmarks, guidelines and policies for safe, effective use of the same in health care. To ensure the benchmarking of AI in traditional medicine and the guidance and support of UN bodies - World Health Organization and International Telecommunication Union, Ministry of Ayush is leading a topic group on traditional medicine as part of Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (FG-AI4H).

Ministry of Ayush based on National Health Policy 2017- which envisaged the integral role of technology (eHealth, mHealth, Cloud, Internet of things, wearables, etc.), has envisioned Ayush Grid, which is aligned with the principles of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. It is a comprehensive IT backbone for the traditional medicine sector in India and created with a vision to transform the Ayush sector to provide efficient, holistic, affordable, and quality services to all, through a secure and interoperable digital ecosystem. Ayush grid operates at four levels viz., Core layer, National Layer, State Layer and Citizen access ensuring seamless digital connectedness between all stakeholders.

The 2nd Health Working Group meeting under G20 India Presidency is currently underway in Panaji, Goa from 17th – 19th April, 2023. More than 180 delegates from 19 G20 member countries, 10 invited states and 22 International Organizations are participating. Ministry of Ayush has setup a stall at exhibition on Digital Health organized on the sidelines of the 2nd meeting of HWG.

24-Mar-2023: Initiatives to tackle anaemia in Women and Children

In 2018, the Government of India launched the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy to reduce prevalence of anaemia in women, children and adolescents through life cycle approach. The 6X6X6 strategy aims to reduce anaemia among six beneficiaries age groups through implementation of six interventions and six institutional mechanisms. The UT of Jammu and Kashmir is implementing Anaemia Mukt Bharat strategy as per GOI guidelines.

In the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, all Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services are provided across all the districts. Further, two aspirational districts (Kupwara district and Baramulla district) are identified under the Aspirational District programme to prioritize the reproductive health of women and children, including anaemia.

  1. Periodic deworming
    • MoHFW is implementing National Deworming Day (NDD) programme under which biannual mass deworming for children and adolescents in age group 1-19 years is carried on designated dates – 10th February and 10th August every year
    • Pregnant women are provided services under the strategy through antenatal care contacts (ANC clinics/ VHND) for deworming (in the second trimester)
  2. Intensified year-round Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Campaign for compliance to IFA and deworming; Appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF); Increase intake of iron-rich, protein-rich and vitamin C-rich foods; dietary diversification
  3. Testing and Treatment of anemia using digital methods (Digital Invasive Haemoglobinometer) in field settings, Sub Health Centres, Health and Wellness Centres; and Semi-auto analyzer in health facilities PHC and above; and point of care treatment. Anaemia Management protocols to be followed are mentioned in Operational Guidelines for Anaemia Mukt Bharat
  4. Management of severe anaemia in pregnant women by administration of IV Iron Sucrose/ Blood transfusion
  5. Providing incentives to ASHA for identification and follow-up of high-risk pregnancies including severe anaemia in pregnant women
  6. Provision of IFA fortified food in government funded public health programmes
  7. Addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis
  8. Strengthening supply chain management of Iron and Folic Acid supplements
  9. Convergence and coordination with other line departments and ministries for strengthening implementation
  10. National Centre of Excellence and Advanced Research on Anaemia Control (NCEAR-A) at AIIMS, Delhi engaged in capacity building of health care providers and development of training toolkit.
  11. Prophylactic Iron Folic Acid Supplementation to all six beneficiaries age group.

Steps taken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for reduction in anaemia among women and children across the country

Age group

Dose and Regime for IFA supplementation

6 – 59 months of age
    • Biweekly, 1 ml Iron and Folic Acid syrup.
    • Each ml of Iron and Folic Acid syrup containing 20 mg elemental Iron + 100 mcg of Folic Acid.

5- 10 years children
    • Weekly, 1 Iron and Folic Acid tablet.
    • Each tablet containing 45 mg elemental Iron + 400 mcg Folic Acid, sugar-coated, pink colour.

School going adolescent girls and boys, 10-19 years of age and Out of school adolescent girls 10-19 years age
    • Weekly, 1 Iron and Folic Acid tablet.
    • Each tablet containing 60 mg elemental iron + 500 mcg Folic Acid, sugar-coated, blue colour.

Women of reproductive age (non-pregnant, non-lactating) 20-49 years.
    • Weekly, 1 Iron and Folic Acid tablet.
    • Each tablet containing 60 mg elemental Iron + 500 mcg Folic Acid, sugar-coated, red colour.
    • All women in the reproductive age group in the pre-conception period and upto the first trimester of the pregnancy are advised to have 400 mcg of Folic Acid tablets, daily.

Pregnant women and lactating mothers (0-6 months child).
    • Daily, 1 Iron and Folic Acid tablet starting from the fourth month of pregnancy (that is from the second trimester), continued throughout pregnancy (minimum 180 days during pregnancy) and to be continued for 180 days, post-partum.
    • Each tablet containing 60 mg elemental Iron + 500 mcg Folic Acid, sugar-coated, red colour.

  1. Mission Poshan 2.0
  2. POSHAN Abhiyaan(Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition)
  3. National Health Mission (NHM)
  4. AYURSWASTHYA Yojana
  5. Ayushman Bharat Health Account (number) (ABHA)
  6. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)