Before talking about what PICME is and why it is needed, the main thing I want to address is the Infant mortality rate.
So, what is Infant Mortality?
In layman terms, Infant mortality is the death of an infant before 1 year of age. The death can be due to various reasons.
What Is Infant Mortality Rate?
Infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths in a particular area divided by the number of babies born in that area, multiplied by 1000. That is the number of infant deaths per 1000 babies born.
Infant mortality rate is a huge problem in India. At least, 32 babies die for every 1000 babies born in India. As for Tamilnadu, approximately 16 deaths per 1000 babies born.
PICME or Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring & Evaluation is an initiative by Tamilnadu government to track the pregnant women.
This is to ensure the mother’s and infant’s health and safety. This scheme comes under National Health Mission, by the public health department of Tamilnadu.
This registration can be done online. It is more like an identification of pregnant women in Tamilnadu. Aim of this scheme is to bring down the infant and maternal mortality rate in Tamilnadu.
Under the scheme, pregnant women who are registered will receive periodic SMS about prenatal and postnatal care.
PICME or Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring & Evaluation is an initiative by Tamilnadu government to track the pregnant women.
This is to ensure the mother’s and infant’s health and safety. This scheme comes under National Health Mission, by the public health department of Tamilnadu.
This registration can be done online. It is more like an identification of pregnant women in Tamilnadu. Aim of this scheme is to bring down the infant and maternal mortality rate in Tamilnadu.
Under the scheme, pregnant women who are registered will receive periodic SMS about prenatal and postnatal care.
Mothers registered will be monitored by local nurses ensuring the safety of mom & the newborn. Maternity details can be also registered by calling child helpline 102.
Even if you don’t require maternity incentives from the Government, registering for PICME and obtaining the RCH ID is mandatory now for getting the birth certificate.
Go to the government website for PICME: https://picme.tn.gov.in
On the right side, there will be an option for pre-registration by the public. Click on that. Alternatively, you can navigate directly to https://picme.tn.gov.in/picme_public
Fill in your details accurately.
Make sure to select the right district and pin code.
While Aadhar is not mandatory for PICME Registration, in case if you are availing of maternity benefits, Aadhar is compulsory. Fill in the details as per requirement.
Enter your contact details and generate OTP.
Final step will be to enter OTP from your registered number and click on Save.
With these six steps, the registration process is complete. Once it is done, you will receive a 12-digit RCH ID (Reproductive and child health ID). Using this RCH ID, you can generate a username and password.
Next time you can log in https://picme.tn.gov.in with the above credentials.
You can check the application status and verify your PICME Number from this login.
If you don’t have a PICME number, you will not be able to get the child’s birth certificate. You need to go to the Primary health center in your area to obtain PICME number and then proceed with birth certificate enrollment.
Yes. This registration has to be done in case of second pregnancy as well, but you can use the same RCH ID.
Yes, they can be used anywhere in Tamilnadu. But you need to report to the nurse in your primary health center.
Hope you don’t forget to register for PICME due to pregnancy brain
(Often pregnant women tend to forget things and struggle to have focus, which is normal and common during pregnancy. It is termed as mommy brain or pregnancy brain and it goes away after delivery)
Happy Pregnancy & Childbirth!