During the financial year under review, the Bank has contributed towards health programmes of five PIAs in the catchments of the Bank’s operational area covering 33 districts in 9 states of India. The Bank, has helped in creating health and hygiene related awareness and behavioural changes through a network of 3,193 village level female health volunteers known as “Swasthiya Sahayikas” who reached out to 5,72,450 women, including 15,488 adolescent girls and 45,603 pregnant women and 1,17,619 lactating mothers. The Swathiya Sahayikas held 38,212 health awareness forums, health and nutrition camps and health sessions focused on pregnant and lactating women. These awareness camps and sessions were attended by 6,82,647 female participants in the reproductive age group. The Swasthiya Sahayikas made 6,30,173 home visits to follow up on the health status of pregnant women, lactating mothers and children below 5 years and have taken 1,744 pregnant women for institutional deliveries during emergency situations, or in case of absence of any family members. They have referred 7,053 women for ante-natal check-ups (‘ANC’) and institutional deliveries in 457 healthcare centres.