Panel Discussion
The Childbirth Experience: Advocating for Respect and Dignity
How can a sense of agency, care and respect influence the experience of childbirth? This panel discussion explores the importance of respect and dignity in maternal healthcare, focusing on the experiences of women during pregnancy and childbirth in India.
The artwork Mother and Child 2 by Nilima Sheikh offers a powerful visual representation of the maternal experience. It depicts a mother and her newborn, appearing as if they were drawn with a single, continuous line. The larger series that this painting is a part of, captures moments of the mother holding, nursing, and steadying her child – telling of the deep bond between them. However, the subtle hints of wounds and tears on the mother’s body in this painting remind us of the physical and emotional challenges women face during childbirth.
Join us for a discussion that delves into the current state of maternal care, addressing the challenges that women face in healthcare settings and the stigma that surrounds their experiences in the maternal healthcare landscape. This discussion will cover public and private sectors but with a special focus on public sector hospitals.
Our panellists, Dr Janhavi Nilekani, Mandira Kalra Kalaan, and Jamuna L, will be in conversation with Anoushaka Chandrashekar. They will also address the role of advocacy, awareness, and outreach in transforming maternity care practices.
This event is conceptualised under our exhibition VISIBLE/INVISIBLE: Representation of Women in Art through the MAP Collection.
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Dr. Janhavi Nilekani
Dr. Janhavi Nilekani is an applied microeconomist, a women’s empowerment activist, a health systems reformer, an effective philanthropist, a mother, a partner, a daughter, and more. She now works in the field of maternal health. Janhavi is a 2018 alumna of Harvard where she completed her PhD in Public Policy, and holds a 2010 BA, cum laude, in Economics and International Studies from Yale.
Janhavi founded Aastrika Midwifery Centre in 2021, an interdisciplinary birth centre in Bangalore. AMC provides ethical, evidence-based care, respectful and informed shared-decision making, and a team that supports mothers through every stage of their journey into motherhood.
Anoushaka Chandrashekar
Anoushaka Chandrashekar is a development sector professional with a strong foundation in research and evaluation design. Currently, she heads the advocacy portfolio at Aastrika Foundation, where she leads the organisation’s communications and outreach work.
Prior to joining Aastrika, Anoushaka worked for 6.5 years with LEAD at Krea University, managing research projects on women’s issues, which included projects on childcare and women collectives. She has extensive experience in stakeholder management, project workflow management, data collection, and data management. Anoushaka holds a master’s degree in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin, and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University.
Jamuna L
Jamuna L is a National Midwifery Educator associated with the State Midwifery Training Institute at the Vanivilas Hospital in Bengaluru.The has worked in healthcare for 21 years.
Mandira Kalra Kalaan
As Senior Campaign Director & Head of Office, India, Mandira Kalra Kalaan leads Purpose’s work in India. She oversees the strategy and implementation of campaigns on gender, electric mobility, public health, climate change, youth, and urban informal settlements.
With over 20 years of experience in strategic and creative communication, Mandira specialises in narrative and behaviour change across a diverse range of issues. A social anthropologist by training, she is deeply committed to working closely with communities, utilising participatory and storytelling approaches to empower those most impacted to co-create their own solutions.
