Janani Suraksha Yojana

10 min read Posted on 8 Aug 2024

In India, access to quality healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth remains a major challenge, particularly for women from underprivileged backgrounds. While urban centres benefit from advanced medical facilities and skilled professionals, countless women in rural and low-income areas still face difficulties in receiving safe and timely maternal care.

To address this gap and reduce maternal and infant mortality, the Government of India introduced the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). This initiative aims to encourage institutional deliveries by providing financial support and healthcare assistance, ensuring that mothers and newborns receive the care they deserve. Founded in 2005, the Government of India has initiated a mother-child wellness programme under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to address the issues aforementioned.

What is Janani Suraksha Yojana?

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a health scheme introduced by the Government of India to address the dual challenges of maternal mortality and financial barriers to healthcare access. The Yojana, launched on 12th April 2005 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, is being implemented in all states and UTs with special focus on low-performing states. This scheme has been proven significant towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortality rates.

JSY focuses on providing financial assistance to underprivileged pregnant women and encouraging them to shift from home births to institutional deliveries. So far, the Janani Suraksha Yojana scheme has effectively promoted safe motherhood of pregnant women residing in economically disadvantaged rural and urban areas and ensured good health of mothers and children during childbirth.

What Are the Objectives of the Janani Suraksha Yojana?

• Reduce Maternal Mortality: By promoting institutional deliveries and ensuring skilled care during childbirth, Janani Suraksha Yojana aims to decrease maternal deaths and complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
• Reduce the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Health during pregnancy and health conditions at the time of delivery impact the baby. Janani Suraksha Yojana aims to provide pre- and post-natal care to the mother, which ultimately improves the health of the child.
• Increase Institutional Deliveries: Home deliveries are risky and can lead to crucial conditions if not handled carefully. To shift to institutional deliveries, Janani Suraksha Yojana incentivizes pregnant women. Thus, JSY ensures access to safe delivery practices, skilled healthcare professionals, and emergency obstetric care.
• Improve Access to Maternal Healthcare: The scheme focuses on enhancing access to antenatal, intranatal, and postnatal care services, especially for women from marginalized and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Provide Financial Support: Janani Suraksha Yojana offers cash assistance to pregnant women upon institutional delivery, eradicating financial barriers and encouraging them to seek timely and appropriate maternal healthcare.
• Empower Women: JSY prioritises the maternal health and well-being of pregnant women from underprivileged areas, which empowers them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
• Enhance Newborn Care: In addition to maternal health, Janani Suraksha Yojana also emphasises essential newborn care interventions, ensuring the well-being and survival of newborns during the critical early stages of life.

Eligible and Requirements to Apply for Janani Suraksha Yojana

• Below Poverty Line (BPL) Category: The scheme mainly aims to empower pregnant women from underprivileged rural and urban areas.
• Relaxation for SC and ST Category: For the SC and ST category, any pregnant woman, including Non-BPL, can gain the benefits of JSY.
• Age Restriction: Pregnant women 19 years of age or older are eligible to register and receive benefits under Janani Suraksha Yojana.
• Number of Live Births: Pregnant women with a maximum of two live births can benefit from JSY. A woman with three or more children cannot receive the incentives.
• Place of Delivery: The pregnant woman registered to gain benefits under the Janani Suraksha Yojana should give birth to the child in a government hospital or selected private clinic. If the delivery happens at home, Rs. 500/- should be given as an incentive.
• In Low-Performing States: Pregnant women residing in low-performing states who deliver in government health centres, state hospitals, or accredited private institutions are eligible for benefits.

Availability of Janani Suraksha Yojana

Janani Suraksha Yojana is available in all the states and UTs with a special focus on the low-performing states. Pregnant women can benefit from JSY by giving birth to the child in the following places:

• All the sub-centres
• Primary health centres
• Rural hospitals
• Community health centres
• District and sub-district hospitals
• Accredited hospitals
• Hospitals under medical colleges
• Municipal corporation hospitals
• Government granted hospitals
• Corporation hospitals

How Much Do I Get if I Register for Janani Suraksha Yojana?

Janani Suraksha Yojana is a big step taken by the government to provide financial assistance and benefits to pregnant women, ASHA workers, and healthcare professionals. If registered for the JSY scheme, the following assistance is provided:

Cash Assistance: Pregnant women and ASHA receive cash incentives and important maternal healthcare services. The amount they receive varies depending on where they live.

For Low Performing States (LPS):

For High Performing States (HPS):

• Rural Area Pregnant Woman Package

Financial Assistance for C-Section Deliveries:

If the pregnant woman requires a C-section delivery and finds no government doctors, they get the financial help of Rs. 1,500 that can be utilized to hire a private expert to perform the delivery at a hospital.

Compensation for Family Planning Treatment:

If a woman opts to undergo a Tubectomy or Laparoscopic Surgery for family planning, she receives compensation under the family welfare scheme.

What Are Janani Suraksha Yojana Benefits?

• Check-Ups During Pregnancy and Safe Delivery: Pregnant women registered under the Janani Suraksha Yojana can have three check-ups, allowing for early detection and management of pregnancy-related complications. They are encouraged to have childbirth in a hospital or accredited clinic to ensure a safe delivery.
• Access to Skilled Care: By promoting institutional deliveries, the JSY ensures pregnant women can access skilled healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, who provide comprehensive maternal and newborn care services.
• Reduction in Maternal Mortality: By encouraging institutional deliveries and improving access to skilled care, Janani Suraksha Yojana aims to reduce maternal mortality rates and prevent pregnancy-related complications.
• Postnatal Care: The JSY scheme emphasizes postnatal care for both mothers and newborns, including breastfeeding support, immunizations, and monitoring for any postpartum complications.
• Support and Training to Healthcare Workers: Healthcare workers who help women with safe deliveries are recognized and appreciated for their hard work. Also, the birth attendants in villages called 'Dai' are trained to improve their skills to make childbirth safer.
• Financial Help for Weaker Sections: Financial support is offered under the Janani Suraksha Yojana, depending on the family's financial status. Also, if a woman needs C-section delivery and a healthcare specialist is absent, funds are provided for a private expert.
• Support Family Planning: Family planning is also encouraged under the Janani Suraksha Yojana.

How to Apply for Janani Suraksha Yojana Online?

1. Go to the official website of Janani Suraksha Yojana. Click the 'Apply Online' option to access the e-registration form.
2. For offline registration, download the form from the website. To do so, go to the 'Download Offline Form' option and select your preferred language to download the form.
3. Fill out the required information in the fields, such as the name of the pregnant woman, address, and other details.
4. Double check all the information to avoid the chances of rejection.
5. Attach all the supporting documents mentioned in the registration form.
6. Once you have checked all the information, click ‘Submit’ to complete the online registration process. For offline submission, fill out the form and all the documents and submit them at the ASHA or Anganwadi Centre.
7. In case of online submission, a code is generated that you need to save for future reference and know the status of the JSY application process.
8. Once the application is reviewed, the JSY card is sent through post or to ASHA workers.

What Documents are Required to Apply for Janani Suraksha Yojana?

• Aadhaar card
• Proof of address
• Delivery certificate
• BPL ration card
• Bank details of the woman
• Mobile number
• Passport sized photograph

How to Avail Benefits Under Janani Suraksha Yojana?

1. Registration and Enrollment: Pregnant women must register for JSY at the nearest government health facility or designated registration centres. During registration, provide necessary personal details and undergo an assessment of eligibility criteria.
2. Antenatal Check-ups: After registration, pregnant women are encouraged to attend regular antenatal check-ups at the designated healthcare facility to monitor any complications and ensure appropriate medical care.
3. Completion of Delivery in Healthcare Facility: To qualify for Janani Suraksha Yojana benefits, the pregnant woman must deliver her baby to a government-approved healthcare facility centre.
4. Verification and Documentation: After the delivery, healthcare providers verify the delivery and complete the necessary documentation, including filling out JSY claim forms. During the process, the delivery details, including the date, place, and mode of delivery, are recorded for verification purposes.
5. Claim Submission: The completed Janani Suraksha Yojana claim forms and relevant documents are submitted to the appropriate authorities or designated offices responsible for processing JSY claims. These documents typically include proof of the woman's identity, proof of registration under JSY, delivery-related documents, and any other required paperwork.
6. Verification and Approval: The concerned authorities verify the submitted JSY claims to ensure compliance with program guidelines and eligibility criteria. Once verified, the claims are approved for processing.
7. Disbursement of Benefits: Upon approval, the cash assistance or benefits under the Janani Suraksha Yojana are disbursed to the eligible woman through the designated mode of payment. The payment mode can be a direct bank transfer or cash payment at the healthcare facility.
8. Postnatal Follow-up: After receiving JSY benefits, postnatal follow-up care is provided to the mother and newborn to monitor their health and well-being. This helps address any postnatal complications.

Note that the process can vary depending on the state’s rules and regulations.

What is the Impact of Janani Suraksha Yojana?

1. Increased Institutional Deliveries: According to government reports, JSY has significantly increased institutional deliveries in India, indicating the program's success in promoting skilled care during childbirth.
2. Reduction in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR): There’s been a decline in maternal mortality rates in states where the Janani Suraksha Yojana has been effectively implemented.
3. Improved Access to Antenatal Care: JSY has been instrumental in improving access to antenatal care services for pregnant women, leading to increased utilization of antenatal check-ups and essential maternal health interventions.
4. Financial Empowerment of Women: Cash incentives provided through Janani Suraksha Yojana have helped raise financial barriers to institutional delivery, especially for marginalized and economically disadvantaged women.
5. Community Awareness and Engagement: JSY has fostered community awareness about the importance of maternal and child health, encouraging families to prioritize institutional deliveries and access timely healthcare services.

Final Words

Janani Suraksha Yojana has shown good results in reducing the maternal and infant mortality ratios in India. It has also been a lifeline for many pregnant women belonging to underprivileged communities and areas, enabling them to avail of multiple healthcare facilities during and after the pregnancy. JSY has also played a vital role in empowering women to make informed decisions related to their health and family planning.

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