24,000 Pregnant Women Died in 2020: WHO Report

The latest report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has exposed the stark reality of maternal healthcare services in India, contradicting government claims. According to the report, 24,000 pregnant women died in India in 2020, accounting for 8.3% of the global maternal mortality rate. This places India alongside countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (22,000 deaths) and Ethiopia (10,000 deaths) in terms of maternal fatalities.

Reality Behind Government Claims

Every year, the Indian government claims to spend millions of rupees on improving maternal healthcare, but the ground reality tells a different story. Under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), financial assistance is provided to underprivileged pregnant women for institutional deliveries. However, the WHO report highlights that despite deliveries taking place in hospitals, there has been no significant decline in maternal mortality. This raises serious concerns about the quality of government healthcare services.

Reasons Behind Rising Maternal Mortality

• Poor hospital infrastructure, where delays in treatment and lack of medicines prove fatal.
• Social inequality, which prevents marginalized women from accessing timely medical care.
• Gender discrimination, as women’s health is often not prioritized.
• Natural disasters and climate crises, which severely impact maternal healthcare services.

Sex Ratio in 2024-25

According to 2024-25 Maharashtra Economic Survey, the sex ratio in the state is 929 females per 1,000 males, same as recorded in the 2011 census. Although the average life expectancy of women is expected to reach 77.5 years by 2031-35, the bigger question remains—will women have access to safe motherhood?