Spontaneous response to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ ‘Health for All’ concept

Registration of more than 50 lakh parents completed under “Project Suvita”

Maharashtra a leading state in SMS reminder initiative for vaccination
Vaccination messages reached 94 lakh beneficiaries in the state

Mumbai, Nov 2025 : The Public Health Department of the Government of Maharashtra has achieved major progress in maternal and child health services through digital mediums, and under the initiative and concept of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, more than 50 lakh parents of children have been registered under “Project Suvita”. Besides this, 40 lakh pregnant women have also registered under this initiative. In this way, the initiative has reached a total of 94 lakh beneficiaries in the state, making it one of the world’s largest state-run and behaviour-science-based health communication programmes.

Since July 2021, the State Government has started the SMS reminder programme in collaboration with the non-profit organisation ‘Development Consortium Project Suvita’. Under this programme, personalised and timely SMS messages are sent for timely vaccination of children and for increasing maternal health services for pregnant women. Each message includes the name of the vaccine, information on which diseases the vaccine protects against, and a clear call to contact the nearest health worker.

This initiative is based on behavioural science research, in which beneficiaries are given active nudges to make health-related decisions. According to global-level research (USA, Kenya, Nigeria etc.), it has been found that SMS reminders reduce the percentage of unvaccinated children by around 15 per cent. The same results have been observed in Project Suvita’s survey in Maharashtra. SMS messages have increased parents’ knowledge about health and they come to the health centre on time for vaccination.

Survey Findings in Maharashtra

In the surveys conducted under Project Suvita — in 2025 on parents, and in 2023 on ASHA workers — the following conclusions emerged:

Out of 1,192 parents, 70 per cent remembered receiving SMS from Suvita. Of them, 48 per cent correctly identified the subject of the message (vaccination or maternal health). Forty per cent of beneficiaries said that the message was extremely useful, while for 5.6 per cent it became the primary source of information.

Out of 90 ASHA workers, 61 per cent said that SMS reminders made it easier to gather beneficiaries for vaccination. Of them, 36 ASHA workers mentioned that some parents came to the health centre only because they received an SMS.

Response from Beneficiaries and ASHA Workers

Many parents and ASHA workers have given positive feedback about the initiative:

“Your programme is very good. We remind parents, but when SMS arrives, parents feel that the government is also keeping an eye on them. So they definitely come for vaccination.”
– ASHA R. Sarkale, Village: Mhasurle, Taluka Khatav, District Satara

“Suvita programme has made parents aware. Earlier, some people would not come despite telling them, but after receiving SMS, they enquire on their own.”
– R. Attar, Village: Suwadi, Taluka Phaltan, District Satara

“We are in the fields, so ASHA tai cannot come home. But because of SMS, we remember vaccination on time.”
– Sheela, Village: Janefal, Taluka Jafrabad, District Jalna

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has congratulated the Public Health Department for the successful implementation of this initiative. Also, special congratulations have been given to the officers who played an important role in the success of this programme. The Project Suvita team has also been appreciated, and the government has set a goal to increase the state’s vaccination coverage to more than 95 per cent in the future through this partnership.

‘Project Suvita’ is a confluence of technology, behavioural science and healthcare. This programme has increased parents’ knowledge, participation, and trust in the health system, and Maharashtra has once again established national leadership in the public health sector through digital innovation.