Times Future of Maternity

Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi is a senior advocate, public policy leader, and former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture. Over the years, she has built a distinguished career spanning law, governance, and public policy, and is widely recognised for her work on women’s rights, legal reform, and parliamentary leadership.

Smt. Lekhi entered active politics with the BJP and served as National Vice President of the BJP Mahila Morcha in 2010, later becoming a national spokesperson for the party. She was elected to the Lok Sabha from the New Delhi constituency in 2014 and re-elected in 2019, where she emerged as a prominent parliamentary voice on governance and policy matters.

As Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Lekhi represented India in diplomatic engagements and international forums while promoting India’s cultural heritage and strengthening global cultural partnerships.

Smt. Lekhi has been a social activist and has been associated with several institutions, including the National Commission for Women, Sakshi, NIPCD and several other organisations which are known for being protectors of the rights of women and children in the country.

Prof. (Dr.) Arti Maria, MD, DM (Neonatology), former Dean, ABVIMS & Dr RML Hospital, is a globally recognized neonatal health leader with 30+ years of expertise. She pioneered India's Family-Centered Care model — now a national program (nominated by Govt to represent at WHA 2019) — and led the Nurturing Care Package (2024). TAG member for MoHFW, ICMR, and AAP's Global Newborn Advisory Committee; former Advisor, International Society for Quality in Healthcare. She has shaped national, WHO and UNICEF guidelines, with 100+ publications including Lancet commentaries. Recipient of ICMR, WHO fellowships and the Blackbug Pioneer Research Award.

Dr. Sharan's expertise is in high risk pregnancy, reproductive endocrinology, minimal Invasive surgery & sexual medicine.

Recipient of the APJ Abdul Kalam's appreciation award, 'Wonder Fogsian', 'The most inspiring gynaecologist' by ET, 'Global Youth Icon Award', an 'Inspirational women', featured by the Incredible women of India, Business Manager for her work as a doctor and author.

A poet, blogger and a columnist, she is also the author of Chronicles of a Gynaecologist, House of Doctors, Anecdotes & Antidotes, Being Radha, Devis & Divas, Raasleela, Shadows of a Fading Twilight.

Dr Madhu Goel is a distinguished Obstetrician and gynaecologist with extensive experience in providing comprehensive women' s healthcare across all stages of life - from adolescence to menopause. A graduate of Maulana Azad Medical College, she did her post graduation from Lady Hardinge Medical College and has over 25 years of experience. She is currently working as Director Fortis La Femme, a premier women's hospital. She is an expert in dealing with high risk pregnancy cases and is passionate about minimally invasive surgery. Beyond her clinical work, she is actively involved in academics and is a contributor in many conferences. She is also a strong advocate for patient education through awareness talks, her social media channels and community outreach programmes.

Prof. (Dr.) Jyotsna Suri is a Prof. and Unit Head at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital. She is recognized for her pioneering role and leadership in the field of obstetric critical care in India. An acclaimed teacher, dedicated clinician, national expert, and WHO–ICMR trial investigator, she has trained over 500 obstetricians and has been conferred with the prestigious Fellowship Honoris Causa of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK.

Her expertise spans maternal critical care, high-risk obstetrics, and quality improvement in obstetric care delivery, making her a sought-after speaker on holistic postnatal care and maternal well-being.

An internationally certified CAPPA trainer Senior Consultant Therapist Antenatal care and Lactation. She is founder Director WellMom Antenatal and Parenting sessions, Srijan Childbirth program at MKW Hospital.

She holds an international certification in Lactation from the University of Stanford along with Certification in Childbirth Preparation from Emory University, Atlanta. She has been working in the field of Pregnancy, Childbirth, breastfeeding and early baby care for more than two decades.

Dr Helai Gupta is a highly experienced doctor, having completed her MBBS from Government Medical College, Jabalpur, and her MD Obst & Gynae from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Being an alumnus of such an esteemed institute, Dr. Gupta is experienced in all varieties of difficult obstetric and gynaecological cases, with a practice spanning nearly four decades. She is a senior consultant at Delhi's premier luxury maternity centre, Rosewalk hospital, and also at Artemis Daffodils where she served as Head of Department.

Her Areas of Interest are: High Risk pregnancies, Infertility treatment, Gynaecological Endocrinology and medical management of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Minimally invasive surgical procedures such as Laproscopy & Hysteroscopy, Colposcopy, Gynae-oncology & Menopause management.

A lactation consultant, child nutritionist, and postpartum care professional working to strengthen families through preventive, evidence-based care across pregnancy, breastfeeding, baby nutrition, and early childhood.

Dr. Juhi Rachel Baluja is a psychiatrist with a DPM and MD in Psychiatry from CMC Vellore and is currently practising in St Stephens Hospital, Delhi. She has a strong clinical interest in Perinatal and Postnatal Mental Health, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the management of Anxiety-related Disorders.

Her approach to care is evidence-based and patient-centered, with a focus on early identification, holistic assessment, and long-term well-being.

Dr Vandana Prasad, MBBS, MRCP, MPH, is the Founder Secretary and Principal Technical Advisor of the Public Health Resource Society (PHRS). She is a Community Pediatrician and public health professional with over 30 years of engagement in community-based action, health systems, public health, and public health nutrition.

Dr. Prasad has served as a Former Member (Child Health) of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and has been a member of various committees with the Health and Women & Child Development Ministries. She briefly served as Advisor, Community Processes, at the National Health Systems Resource Centre.

As an educator, she has taught Epidemiology and Public Health Nutrition for MPH at Ambedkar University, New Delhi as Guest Faculty and serves as Deputy Editor with BMJ Pediatrics Open (BMJPO). She has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and has authored 2 published books on public health issues.

Richa Sakhuja Sethi is an educator and a resilient mother whose life reflects strength, patience, and unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds.

She is the proud mother of a 16-year-old daughter who was born as a special child with an extremely low birth weight of nearly 1 kilogram. Her daughter's early years were marked by medical challenges and delayed developmental milestones, but Richa faced every obstacle with courage, determination, and unconditional love. Through continuous care and perseverance, she played a vital role in supporting her daughter's growth and development, becoming an inspiration to many parents navigating similar journeys.

Her daughter, Chaitanyaa Sethi, is currently studying in Bal Bharati Public School in Class 11th and pursuing her Parabadminton sports at National and International levels.

Dr. Indranil Mukhopadhyay is a Professor at School of Government and Public Policy, OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. He has a PhD in public health and health economics, M Phil in Public Health, and MA in Economics, all from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi.

He is currently the Indian Country PI of a research grant on “Health Financing Fragmentation and Universal Health Coverage in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and India” supported by NIHR, United Kingdom.

He is the co-editor of Jindal Journal of Public Policy.

Dr Sunita Reddy is an anthropologist and Professor at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University for the past 22 years. She has published widely, having 12 books and numerous articles/papers in peer reviewed journals and newspapers.

Her research is on various issues, including public health issues, specifically mother child health, surrogacy, medical tourism and ethnomedicine and tribal healing systems. She is founder chair of the Anthropos India Foundation (AIF), a 14 years old research and policy organization.

AIF has a book series with Springer Nature ‘People, Societies and Cultures: Exploring and Documenting Diversities’. AIF also has a publishing house ‘Anthropos Books’, publishing books and digital magazines ‘Childhood Matters’ and ‘Anthro Bulletin’.

She has received Women Empowerment Award (2021) and was recognized as an Eminent Anthropologist in the World Anthropological Congress (Aug 2023, Bhubaneshwar).

Aviral Shrivastava is a healthcare entrepreneur with 18+ years of experience scaling brands from pharmaceuticals to minimally invasive technologies, specifically in gynae, ENT lasers and endoscopy. As the Founder of Momkidcare, he built a platform that has significantly transformed maternity & postpartum care. He has a main focus now on integrating AI and women health experts to provide preventive care across all life stages, from adolescence to post-menopause specially Pregnancy and postpartum.

Dr. Monika Banerjee leads the monitoring, evaluation, and research practice at Mobile Creches, bringing a wealth of experience in qualitative research and curriculum design. Previously at the Institute of Social Studies Trust, Delhi, she specialized in research on the gendered aspects of informality, labour, and work choices.

Monika's work focuses on governance and the representation of marginalized groups in policy, aiming to create impactful change. She locates her work at the intersection of gender, labour, and care, bringing a critical and grounded lens to issues of equity and social justice.

Dr. Banerjee holds a PhD and M.Phil in Sociology of Education from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, and an MA in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

Dr. Nemthianngai Guite is an associate professor at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is a trained social worker with a focus on public health.

Her work explores the intersection of social science and health, specifically regarding medical pluralism, health care social work practice, global discourses on biodiversity and health, traditional healing practices in maternal and child health, social groups and social networks of health care professionals and climate injustice among indigenous communities of northeast India.

Her awards and fellowships include the Fulbright Nehru Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Public Health by USIEF (2016), the Shastri Mobility Programme Fellowship in Public Health by SICI (2018), and the Global Fellow WomenLiftHealth Leadership Journey (2023).

Stuti Shrivastava is a legal professional and a mother to a one year old.

Her son was born extremely premature at just 26 weeks of gestation and spent 60 days in the NICU. He is now absolutely healthy.

Prof. (Dr.) Manju Puri is currently working as a Professor at SGT Medical College, Gurugram, Haryana (India). In the past she has been a faculty member in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 1992, initially at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, and later for 28 years at Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), New Delhi, where she eventually headed the department.

She is the President of the National Association of Reproductive and Child Health of India (NARCHI). She was also the Founder Chair of the Quality Improvement Committee (2020–2022) of the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Delhi (AOGD).

Prof. Puri is a National Mentor for the implementation of LaQshya, a labour room quality improvement initiative of the Government of India. As the President of the Delhi Chapter of the National Association of Reproductive and Child Health of India (NARCHI), she has fervently worked towards reducing the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women.

Prof. (Dr.) Dinesh Kumar Yadav is Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology and Head of the Department of Pediatrics at ABVIMS & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. He also heads the Division of Pediatric Cardiology.

He is an active member of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, the Pediatric Cardiology Society of India, and the European Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and serves as Joint Secretary of the Pediatric Cardiology Chapter of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Yadav has authored more than 65 publications in national and international journals and has contributed extensively to pediatric and cardiac care for children.

Prof. (Dr.) Surveen Ghumman Sindhu is a distinguished fertility specialist with over 32 years of clinical experience in reproductive medicine. She serves as Senior Director & Head of the IVF & Reproductive Medicine Centre at MAX Group of Multispeciality Hospitals, Delhi & Gurgaon, and is Professor at the School of Health Sciences, Ansal University. She is also the Senior Vice President of the Indian Fertility Society.

An accomplished academic, Prof. Sindhu has authored nine books (three published internationally) and has over 80 publications in leading medical journals and books. She is the Program Director for the Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine at Max Hospital and serves as Executive Editor of the journal Fertility Science and Research.

Her contributions to reproductive medicine have earned her numerous national awards, including the ET National Award for Best IVF Specialist, IMA Excellence Award, and multiple distinguished service honours from leading medical associations.

Dr. Madhu Goel is a distinguished obstetrician and gynecologist with extensive experience in providing comprehensive women's healthcare across all stages of life—from adolescence to menopause. A graduate of Maulana Azad Medical College, she completed her postgraduation from Lady Hardinge Medical College and has over 25 years of clinical experience.

She is currently working as the Director at Fortis La Femme, a premier women's hospital. She is an expert in managing high-risk pregnancy cases and is passionate about minimally invasive surgery.

Beyond her clinical work, she is actively involved in academics and contributes regularly to various medical conferences. She is also a strong advocate for patient education through awareness talks, her social media platforms, and community outreach programmes.