In Maharashtra, India, more families are gaining access to legal identity and essential services thanks to stronger civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems.
Through the Global Health Advocacy Incubator’s (GHAI) close collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, a comprehensive strategic health communications package has been rolled out across the state, which highlights the importance of CRVS services.
These materials will encourage more people to seek registration by promoting how registering every birth, death and stillbirth helps ensure that people can access health care, education, social protection and other public services. The package also promotes the importance of Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) - a critical legal document detailing the immediate and underlying causes of a person's death – which helps provide mortality statistics essential for public health planning and resource allocation.
Led by the State Bureau of Health Intelligence and Vital Statistics Office in Pune, under the Public Health Department, and in partnership with the State IEC Bureau, the communication materials will be disseminated across more than 7,000 health facilities and civil registration centers statewide.
The package includes posters, radio jingles and videos developed in Marathi to ensure accessibility and meaningful public engagement. It was officially launched at a state-level CRVS Workshop on January 23, 2026, in Pune (photo below).
This work reflects GHAI’s domestic resource mobilization approach and technical input—supporting governments to institutionalize CRVS priorities within routine public health financing for long-term sustainability and national ownership.
Together, these efforts are helping ensure that every life is counted, and every citizen is recognized in India.
