Beyond Supplements: Community Power in Tackling India’s Maternal Anaemia

Iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets are a cornerstone of India’s public health drive, but anaemia remains a stubborn barrier to safe motherhood and healthy newborns. NFHS 5 data shows that 52.2% of pregnant women in India are anaemic, and experts warn this widespread deficiency “contributes to high maternal and infant mortality rates”. Mothers who lack iron and nutrition are more likely to deliver low-birthweight or premature babies, and even mild anaemia raises risks for both mother and child. Recognising this, the government’s Anaemia Mukt Bharat strategy (2018) scaled up IFA supplements and nutrition counseling across the lifecycle. These efforts have helped millions, but by themselves they are not enough – pills must be backed by early diagnosis, education and local action to make a real dent.