An empty lap Mangala’s son would be on the cusp of adulthood had he not drowned seventeen years ago in a pond near the family home in a village in West Bengal. She recalls how the day he died had started out like most others. Her husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law had left the house as the sun was rising, off to farm the land they rented nearby. Her mother-in-law stayed at home to help care for Mangala’s two young sons while she started cooking for the family. While Mangala was finishing the curry her mother-in-law headed outside to greet a passing salesman. Unbeknownst to her, her young grandson had followed her. When she stepped back indoors, alone, Mangala called for her son. When he did not respond, they started looking in earnest. The search proved fruitless. “I looked everywhere, in every corner of the house, but I didn’t find him. Then I shouted, asking neighbours where my child was. No one had seen him.By: MangalaMother who

Sravanthi's story Sravanthi lost her first baby in the eight month of pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia. When she became pregnant again, she was enrolled in the SMARThealth Pregnancy program. This time, an ASHA worker diagnosed her high blood pressure and helped her manage her condition through to the birth of her baby boy. “My health improved, my blood pressure stabilised, and I was able to carry the pregnancy to term. I feel much better now, both physically and mentally. I no longer live in fear.By: SravanthiSMARThealth user Sravanthi's story Struggling to make a living on low wages and handouts from family members, life got even harder for newly married Sravanthi when she became pregnant for the first time and had to give up her part time job processing tobacco leaves. During the fifth month of her pregnancy, she started to experience some worrying signs that something was wrong – her legs, face, and whole body swelled up. "At the hospi