Orissa is a high focus state with a population of 3.68 crores, comprising of 85% rural habitants, with 22% Scheduled Tribe and 16.5% Scheduled Caste population. With regard to NRHM , Orissa’s focus has been- reduction of Maternal mortality ratio and infant mortality rate In the State significant progress in key areas has been achieved which are detailed below

JSY was introduced towards the beginning of the year 2006 in the State. However full fledged operation took place in August 2006. As per NFHS -3 Institutional delivery in the state is 38.7% and data from CNAA for the year 2005-2006 shows institutional delivery at 43.05%.

The total number of JSY beneficiary who have received JSY assistance till date is 95917. Amongst the JSY beneficiaries institutional delivery is 48.5% .The analysis of last three month data on JSY shows an increasing trend in institutional delivery numbers. To be more specific for the months of October, November, December 2006 institutional delivery among JSY beneficiaries is 46.7%, 47.8% and 48 .5% respectively. The CNAA data for the above period for institutional delivery is 51.5%. Based on prelimnary analysis and on our impressions from the field , this increase can be attributed to the cash incentive being disbursed under JSY. To lend credence to the above fact a small analysis for two institutions in two KBK districts is graphically depicted below.

Mathili CHC of Malkangiri district the institutional delivery has increased from 88 (April 2005-December 2005) to 149 during April 2006 to December 2006. Similarly, institutional delivery of Koraput district in Ravanaguda PHC has gone up from 59 to 120; and in Boriguma CHC – 97 to 169 respectively in the period between April 2005 – December 2005 and April 2006 to December 2006.  

NGOs have emerged as an important institution, playing a vital role in social development. This has helped in greater community participation and enhancing the programme reach. The Mission Directorate, NRHM Orissa, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Orissa has initiated an innovative concept of management of PHC through voluntary organization. Partnerships through involvement of NGOs and is being promoted within the government system. In the district of Bhadrak the NGO “SHEPHERD”, in Dhenkanal and Jajpur, NGO Nysasdri, with support from Interact Worldwide has been managing Primary Health Care Centres. This partner ship has been using strategies like participatory techniques to understand community needs, developing local resources and reaching the unreached. As an effect of this partnership PHCs lying defunct have become vibrant centres of primary health care delivery services

Orissa has taken a pioneering role in involving NGOs in Health Sector delivery services during last one year after the launching of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The State has involved 21 MNGOs and 122 FNGOs in the state covering 30 districts to provide RCH service delivery in the un/underserved subcentres identified by State Government. The main role is to address the gaps in the RCH service delivery and to enable such districts/blocks to progressively achieve the overall RCH goal. Orissa is the only state in India where the MNGOs and FNGOs are working in all the districts of the state\. Their involvement in last one year has paved the way to foster the immunization coverage, enhance institutional deliveries, improve ANC/PNC coverage and uptake of family planning services. To support the above claim the performance of one MNGO OSCARD for the District of Bolangir and Kalahandi is detailed below.

Currently an independent study to evaluate the performance of the MNGOs in the State is in process. A total of 750 staff are working in MNGOs and FNGOs who have received qualitative training input through NRHM and have been rendering services at the grass root covering 256 subcentres in 3010 underserved villages. A strong network thereby has been built between Government and civil society and they are collectively working to address key health issues. 

The activities have contributed to the reduction of IMR from 82 (NFHS-2) to 65 (NFHS-3). The state has made significant progress in reduction of IMR from 90 (2001-SRS) to 77 (2003-SRS) . This has been possible due to the following: