The Kilkari program is a mobile-based service launched on 15th January 2016 as a part of its Digital India initiative, for new and expectant mothers aimed at encouraging them to make healthier choices for their newborn care by delivering messages about pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare directly to the beneficiaries.
It is an audio-based service and hence overcomes the literacy challenges of rural India. Kilkari delivers free, weekly, time-appropriate audio messages about pregnancy, childbirth and childcare via Interactive Voice Response (IVR) to women registered in the RCH portal. Messaging begins in the second trimester of pregnancy and continues until the child is one year old. The pregnant mother data is fetched from RCH portal to Kilkari through web service.
The program informs mothers and families about behaviors and practices to be followed during pregnancy and infancy. The weekly messages help families to educate, remind and reinforce the prioritized actions for each week during this crucial period. This action not only saves the lives of pregnant women and children from several risks but also ensures a healthy outcome.
The Kilkari Project serves 18 States/UTs, namely, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Recently, on 07th February 2024, the Kilkari Project was launched in two additional States namely, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.