SHILLONG, OCT 21: The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) recently observed the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab, a renowned freedom fighter, politician, and literary figure.
The event featured an invited lecture by Prof. Ashwani Kumar from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, on “Grassroots Governance and the Rise of Maternal Welfare in India.”
In his thought-provoking lecture titled “Grassroots Governance and the Rise of Maternal Welfare in India,” Prof. Kumar delved into the intersection of governance, gender, and social welfare, contextualizing India’s maternal welfare evolution within global and local frameworks. He began by emphasizing the importance of humility and gratitude in governance, quoting poet and Nobel laureate Octavio Paz to underscore the moral dimension of social policy:
“In our clamorous times, when the earth feels fragile and humanity faces unprecedented challenges, it seems better to first acknowledge our flaws and then express gratitude for those whose generosity makes life more beautiful and bountiful.”
Prof. Kumar traced how Dr. Mahtab’s vision of grassroots governance inspired transformative welfare measures in India, particularly in the domain of maternal health and women’s empowerment. He highlighted programs such as Subhadra Yojana, Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), and Mission Shakti in Odisha as models demonstrating how locally grounded governance can foster social justice and equity.
He noted that the reservation of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) has been a transformative mechanism for embedding maternal welfare within governance. Programs like MGNREGA, mandating at least one-third participation of women, have provided economic agency and decision-making power, reinforcing women’s role in shaping local development agendas.
Prof. Kumar also discussed the growing integration of maternal welfare and women’s empowerment in Northeast India. He cited Meghalaya’s inclusive socio-economic model launched in October 2025, which supports new mothers through nutrition, neonatal care, and locally driven enterprises. Initiatives like “She-Rise” in Laitkroh, East Khasi Hills, which manufactures reusable sanitary pads, were highlighted as examples of linking women’s health, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability.
He concluded that India’s evolving maternal welfare state reflects a unique synthesis of participatory governance, gender justice, and cooperative federalism, making the country “a laboratory for innovative welfare practices grounded in local knowledge and community participation.”
The Chairman of the event, Prof. Sumarbin Umdor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of NEHU, thanked Prof. Ashwani Kumar for his enlightening lecture and insightful engagement with the works of Dr. Mahtab and the broader theme of maternal welfare. Prof. Umdor reflected on Meghalaya’s socio-economic transition following the Supreme Court’s ban on timber logging in the late 1990s, which disproportionately affected rural livelihoods. He emphasized that “the challenges of that period underscored the importance of women’s employment and maternal welfare as key components of inclusive development.”
The event concluded with a vibrant panel discussion, moderated by Prof. Bhagirathi Panda, featuring faculty members from NEHU.
The discussion focused on the intersections of governance, gender, and development, stimulating engaging exchanges among participants.
By our Reporter
