International Institute for Population Sciences
Deemed to be University (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)

Ensuring good health of women is one of the essential criteria to ensure women’s development contributing inclusive development in any given society. Well-being and good health of women is also one of the vital sustainable development goals (SDGs). Until and unless health of the women is protected and improved, it would be difficult to achieve gender equality, merely through any socio-economic and political measures. Reproductive and maternal health in particular is one of the important components of women’s health. Women’s health in general and reproductive and maternal health in particular is very bad in a few BIMARU (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh) states of India. In Bihar, a large number of the marriage of girls takes place before 18 years, and their consent is often not considered for marriage. When a large number of girls get married at an early age, they are mostly excluded in making any other reproductive choices and exercising reproductive rights. Bihar is also one of the states having very high maternal mortality rates in India and in the world; about 300 deaths occur for every 100,000 births. There is lower percentage of institutional delivery, or delivery assisted by a health personnel, lower level of ANC and PNC. The Indian state has taken several policy measures to ameliorate reproductive and maternal health across states of India. Janani Surakshya Yojana (JSY) and ‘Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana’ (PMMVY) are two important policies which is designed to improve maternal health in India. The current study critically analysis the role of existing health policies towards improvement of the maternal and reproductive health of women in the district of Samastipur district of Bihar. A random sample of 141 married women from different eligible households were selected to understand the status of maternal and reproductive health of women. The study analyses the level of awareness about the policy, beneficiaries and impediments faced during availing the facilities. Finally, the paper discusses the effectiveness and usefulness of policies towards maintaining or improving the reproductive and maternal health. The results of the study revealed that over the period of time, there has been improvement in maternal health, although the reproductive health and rights of women has not changed much in Bihar. Most of the respondents were aware about the JSY but only a few knew about recently announced schemes such as PMMVY. The results revealed that JSY has indeed influenced to improve institutional delivery. But few of them also faced impediments in availing benefits including bribing for receiving financial benefits. However, the policies have not been able to improve much the reproductive health and rights of the women, as still around forty percent respondents are found to have married below the marriageable age. They are not able to take decisions related to their reproductive issues. There is a need to upscale the awareness components about the details of the schemes and documents required for availing the schemes and create awareness about all components of women’s reproductive health rights.