Why in news?
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently introduced the JANANI platform (Joint Action for Nutritional Assessment and Newborn Interventions) to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services. By early May 2026 over 1.3 crore people had registered, highlighting growing adoption of digital health records.
Background
JANANI is a digital system designed to create and track longitudinal maternal and child health records. It builds on existing programmes like the Universal Immunisation Programme (U‑WIN), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan and POSHAN 2.0 by integrating data into a single platform. Each pregnant woman receives a mother card and each newborn receives a child health card, enabling health workers to record antenatal check‑ups, immunisations and nutrition interventions. The platform sends automated reminders for vaccinations, tracks high‑risk pregnancies and generates real‑time dashboards for administrators.
Key features
- Digital health records: JANANI assigns a unique ID to each mother and child, creating a continuum of care from conception through the first five years of life. Health events are recorded on smartphones or tablets used by frontline workers.
- Integration with other schemes: The platform links with the U‑WIN immunisation registry and POSHAN tracker to ensure that nutrition and vaccination services reach beneficiaries on time.
- Automated alerts: Families receive SMS and app notifications about upcoming antenatal visits, due dates and vaccination schedules. Health workers can identify mothers who miss appointments and provide follow‑up.
- Monitoring and analytics: District and state officials access dashboards showing coverage rates, high‑risk cases and supply stock. The data supports planning and helps reduce maternal and infant mortality.
Sources
PIB.
