Archive · 8 Jan 2026
Odisha's Nirikhyana Initiative Provides Free Ultrasounds to Pregnant Women
In a small village in Odisha, India, a new program called Nirikhyana is helping pregnant women get free ultrasound scans.
Before this program, many women like Jhili Rout had to borrow money or travel far to get these important health checks.
Now, thanks to the initiative led by IAS officer Dibyajyoti Parida, over 1.38 lakh women have received free ultrasounds.
The program uses a special app to connect women with doctors and clinics, making it easier for them to get the care they need.
This has helped reduce the number of problems during pregnancy and childbirth, making both mothers and babies healthier.
The program is so successful that more clinics are opening in rural areas, and the next step is to use artificial intelligence to make the system even better.
The Nirikhyana initiative in Ganjam district, Odisha, provides free ultrasound scans to pregnant women, benefiting over 1.38 lakh women.
The program addresses the lack of access to diagnostic services in rural areas by partnering with private clinics and using a mobile app for real-time monitoring.
Free ultrasounds and transportation are provided, especially in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) areas, to ensure financial accessibility.
The initiative has significantly improved maternal and child health, reducing maternal mortality rates from 97 to 69 and neonatal mortality rates from 18 to 9 between 2021 and 2024.
The program is funded by existing resources from the National Health Mission, district mineral funds, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) budgets, with Rs 20 lakh spent so far.
- Who
- Pregnant women in rural areas of Ganjam district, Odisha
- What
- Free ultrasound scans and healthcare services
- When
- Initiative launched in 2023, conceptualized in November 2022
- Where
- Ganjam district, Odisha, India
- Why
- To address the lack of access to essential diagnostic services in rural areas
- Initiative Name
- Nirikhyana
- Location
- Ganjam district, Odisha, India
- Beneficiaries
- 1.38 lakh pregnant women
- Free Services
- Up to three ultrasound scans
- Implementation
- Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
- Cost Coverage
- Rs 20 lakh spent so far
- Impact
- Maternal mortality rate reduced from 97 to 69 (2021-24)
- Neonatal mortality rate
- Reduced from 18 to 9 (2021-24)