ARMMAN

At just 20 years old, Sneha Tukaram Shirke, living in Maharashtra, found herself navigating early motherhood largely on her own. With her husband working long hours and her in-laws living away, most of her pregnancy was spent in isolation.

Sneha often felt anxious, unsure and uncertain about what was normal, what needed attention, and how to care for herself and her baby. It was only in the fifth month of her pregnancy that she began receiving Kilkari’s weekly, stage-based voice calls, which became a vital source of information and reassurance. Initially unsure of what to expect, Sneha began to look forward to the calm, familiar voice that spoke to her about her baby’s growth and development, nutrition, antenatal care practices and overall health. Each message arrived just when she needed it most - helping her understand her body, prepare for delivery, and manage her emotions with greater confidence.

By the time she returned to her mother’s home for delivery, she felt calmer and more prepared. The timely information and emotional support from Kilkari transformed her outlook, making her confident, informed, and emotionally strong.

Today, Sneha actively champions the programme, enthusiastically recommending it to other expecting mothers and describing Kilkari as “a motherly voice that guides you step by step.”

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has shared a blog reflecting on a key conversation from this year's , co-hosted with 100x Impact, Dasra, EMpower—The Emerging Markets Foundation, and Co-Impact, on what it truly takes to move from promising solutions to systems-level impact.

The piece makes a compelling case for long-term, flexible funding over short-term, project-based support, and what changes when funders stop acting as funders and start acting as allies.

Our CEO Gaurav Shah captured that distinction powerfully:

"You could say, 'I'm giving you long-term flexible funding because I don't understand what you're doing, and I believe you do.' Or you could say, 'I'm your ally.' Those two articulations are very different. When you say, 'I'm your ally,' you co-own the vision."

Read the full story here 🔗 https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/socialbusinesshub/2026/05/15/funding-at-the-scale-of-the-problem-what-it-takes-to-move-from-promising-solutions-to-systems-level-impact/

A safe delivery. A timely diagnosis. A mother who makes it home with her newborn. Behind each of these milestones, there is a nurse.

Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) are the backbone of India's public health system, often the first point of contact at healthcare centres and the last line of support for women navigating pregnancy and motherhood. From conducting antenatal check-ups, monitoring high-risk pregnancies, and providing postnatal care, to administering vaccines, promoting family planning, and raising awareness about nutrition and hygiene, their work is relentless, wide-ranging, and deeply impactful.

Through ARMMAN's Integrated High Risk Pregnancy Tracking and Management (IHRPTM) programme, ANMs, along with medical officers and doctors, are trained in identification, tracking, management, and referral of high-risk pregnancies. ANMs are further supported by an Artificial Intelligence-enabled WhatsApp chatbot that provides real-time, clinically accurate guidance through voice and text. This on-the-job learning and support tool helps solve their doubts, guide women with confidence, and reduces the burden on tertiary care facilities.

This , we celebrate the immense contribution of nurses towards saving the lives of women and children across India. Their dedication, compassion, and expertise are the foundation on which healthier communities are built.