“Sister has been waiting at the Anganwadi,” Didi called through the open doorway. Didi, an ASHA worker and community health activist from village Pipari in Madhya Pradesh, encourages women to attend the monthly Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) at the local Anganwadi center. She told Devki, a second-time expecting mother, “If you miss this, you won’t get another check-up until your second trimester.” Reluctant but eager for a free health check-up, Devki follows, tugging her three-year-old along.

Mamta, the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), examined Devki’s documents inside the Anganwadi. The ANM, responsible for maternal and child health in the area, recorded her weight, obstetric history, and blood pressure. This initial assessment, conducted by the AAA workers (ASHA, Anganwadi worker, and ANM), was the first step in Devki’s journey into the formal healthcare system.

Unbeknownst to Devki, this simple act marked her entry as one of the 19.6 million rural women registering for antenatal care in India annually. [1][2] Every service she received would be digitally recorded, creating a real-time picture of her pregnancy.

From Data to Action

Following the VHSND, registers filled with data points like hemoglobin levels and nutritional intake were ready for processing. Seated on a dari (mat) with the ASHA and Anganwadi worker, the ANM discussed Devki’s case. She noted Devki’s frail appearance and history of missed appointments. The ASHA shared Devki’s challenges in attending the monthly sessions, and the Anganwadi worker reported her weight to be low: 39.5 kg.

The AAA workers marked Devki’s house on the village map with a red bindi, signifying a high-risk pregnancy. They created a custom four-week plan for monitoring her health, planning for personalized guidance, and regular check-ups. This plan was recorded in the minutes of the meeting (MoM).

As the next step, Devki’s data was uploaded onto digital platforms like ANMOL, POSHAN Tracker, and U-WIN, and her profile was flagged for potential high-risk conditions, including low weight and severe anemia. This flag made her case visible at the state level. This high-risk flag triggered a series of actions, including:

How Devki’s Story Shaped My Perspective

Lesson #1: Numbers carry stories that demand action. If they are not correctly reported, the actionable story never reaches the people who need it most. My experience reaffirmed that the dashboard and data do reflect critical human needs. And it must be correctly populated because that’s the only way a person not visiting the field can identify the ‘Needs’.

Lesson #2: Frontline capacity requires understanding the ‘why’ of data. Strengthening their understanding of why accurate data matters transforms reporting from a routine task into a responsibility that safeguards lives. Equipping them with the perspective that accurate data entry is not just an administrative task but a lifeline for mothers and children.

Even today, close to 1.27 million pregnant women in rural India are missed out from these data systems because they do not get registered for antenatal care services. This is a compelling call to action.

I aim to bridge this access gap. To build systems that not only collect comprehensive information about each beneficiary but also ensure that data translates into meaningful action. To contribute to a future where every Devki has the opportunity to thrive with the support of a well-equipped, responsive system that factors her needs into consideration.

That is not just a hope—it is a goal I work toward with The Antara Foundation every single day.