What is Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)?
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission (NHM). It promotes institutional delivery among pregnant women especially with weak socio-economic status i.e. women from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and BPL households. The scheme is under implementation in all states and Union Territories (UTs), with a special focus on Low Performing States (LPS).
More than one crore women are getting help annually from Janani Suraksha Yojana. The government is spending Rs 1600 crore annually on JSY.
Why Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) was launched?
Every year in the country, more than 56,000 women die due to problems and diseases during pregnancy. Similarly, every year, more than 13 lakh newborns in India die within a year of birth and a majority of these occur in the first two days after birth.
To improve the condition of pregnant women and newborns, the Central Government started Janani Suraksha Yojana JSY. In JSY, upon delivery of a pregnant woman, Rs 6000 is given directly to her bank account. The government’s thinking is that if financial assistance is provided to pregnant women, it will help in improving the health of the mother and child. Under Janani Suraksha Yojana, all tests of pregnant women and delivery of the child are free.
When Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) was launched?
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) was started on 12 April 2005.
What is the objective of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)?
The objective of Janani Suraksha Yojana is to reduce maternal and infant mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women, especially with weak socio-economic status i.e. women from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and BPL households.
What are the financial benefits of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)?
Under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), the government provides financial assistance of Rs 6,000 to every pregnant woman to encourage delivery in government hospitals.
Under Janani Suraksha Yojana, pregnant women in rural areas are given Rs 1,400 and women in urban areas are given Rs 1,000, while under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, they get another Rs 5,000.
Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) closely works with the JSY scheme and acts as a medium between the government and the poor pregnant women in low performing states.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES . Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana: UPSC PRELIMS 2023
1 . It is safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2 . Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3 . It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4 . Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Ans (b) EXPLANATION ● It is an initiative taken by the National Health Mission (NRHM). The Janani Suraksha Yojana is sponsored by the Central Government of India. Hence statement 1 is not correct. ● Under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram scheme(and not under JSY), all pregnant women and infants will get free treatment benefits at public health institutions including zero expenses delivery. Hence statement 4 is not correct. ● Statement 2 and 3 are correct.
