Launched on April 12, 2005, by the Honourable Prime Minister, the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a key maternal health initiative under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). Its primary goal is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by encouraging safe institutional deliveries, particularly among economically disadvantaged pregnant women.
The scheme is active across all states and union territories, with special emphasis on regions with historically poor health outcomes. What sets JSY apart is its unique approach of combining financial assistance with essential maternal healthcare—ensuring that both access and affordability go hand in hand.
As a 100% centrally sponsored scheme, JSY offers cash incentives to pregnant women who choose to deliver at a healthcare facility. This not only helps manage delivery-related costs but also promotes safer childbirth in well-equipped medical settings.
At the core of JSY is the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)—a trained community health worker who plays a vital role in connecting rural families to the healthcare system. ASHA workers provide continuous support to expectant mothers, guiding them through antenatal checkups, hospital delivery, and postnatal care.
The success of Janani Suraksha Yojana is measured by the rise in institutional deliveries among low-income groups—marking a crucial step toward safer motherhood and healthier beginnings for newborns.
What is Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)?
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a flagship safe motherhood initiative launched by the Government of India under the National Health Mission (NHM). Its primary objective is to lower maternal and newborn mortality rates by encouraging institutional deliveries, especially among economically weaker and vulnerable pregnant women. The scheme offers cash incentives to eligible women who opt for delivery at a healthcare facility.
Objective of Janani Suraksha Yojana
- Promote institutional deliveries: The janani suraksha yojana scheme aims to increase the number of women delivering in healthcare facilities, ensuring safer childbirth and reducing risks associated with home deliveries.
- Reduce maternal and neonatal mortality: By providing financial assistance and encouraging skilled birth attendance, the scheme focuses on lowering maternal deaths and improving newborn survival rates.
- Support low-income and vulnerable mothers: The janani suraksha yojana scheme provides cash incentives to economically weaker women, helping them access antenatal care, safe delivery services, and postnatal support without financial burden.
- Strengthen access to healthcare services: The scheme promotes early registration, regular check-ups, and timely medical interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes for mothers and infants.
Who is eligible for Janani Suraksha Scheme?
The janani suraksha yojana scheme is primarily designed for pregnant women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, especially those living in rural and low-performing states. Women aged 19 years and above who choose institutional deliveries in government or accredited healthcare facilities are eligible for cash benefits under this initiative. The scheme ensures that financial limitations do not prevent expectant mothers from accessing safe and quality maternity care.
