Uttar Pradesh is launching the 'Mukhya Mantri Matritva Suraksha Yojna' to address its high maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 141 per lakh live births. The initiative, spearheaded by the state transformation commission (STC), aims to enhance healthcare access for pregnant women by improving connections with medical colleges that offer superior facilities. STC chief executive officer Manoj Singh emphasized the importance of tracking pregnant women from their first health center visit to ensure all necessary check-ups are completed before delivery at a medical college. A state-level 'war room' will be established to monitor high-risk pregnancies, while private hospitals will be evaluated based on their emergency care capabilities. The program seeks to emulate the successful maternal health outcomes of states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which have MMRs below 40 per lakh live births. Current health data indicates that hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal deaths, highlighting the need for improved healthcare infrastructure and services across the state.