Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and neo-natal mortality
by
promoting institutional delivery among the poor pregnant women.
The Yojana, launched on 12th April 2005, is being implemented in all states and UTs with special focus on low performing states. JSY is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme and it integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care. The success of the scheme is be determined by the increase in institutional delivery among the poor families.
The Asha as well as AWW like activists become the effective link between Government and poor women in this programme. Role of ASHA or other link health worker associated with JSY would be to:
- Identify pregnant woman as a beneficiary of the scheme and report or facilitate registration for ANC,
- Assist the pregnant woman to obtain necessary certifications wherever necessary,
- Provide and / or help the women in receiving at least three ANC checkups including TT injections, IFA tablets,
- Identify a functional Government health centre or an accredited private health institution for referral and delivery,
- Counsel for institutional delivery,
- Escort the beneficiary women to the pre-determined health center and stay with her till the woman is discharged,
- Arrange to immunize the newborn till the age of 14 weeks,
- Inform about the birth or death of the child or mother to the ANM/MO,
- Post natal visit within 7 days of delivery to track mother’s health after delivery and facilitate in obtaining care, wherever necessary,
- Counsel for initiation of breastfeeding to the newborn within one-hour of delivery and its continuance till 3-6 months and promote family planning.
Cash Assistance in LPS and HPS states:
The scheme focuses on the poor pregnant woman with special dispensation for states having low institutional delivery rates namely the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Rajasthan, Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir. While these states have been named as Low Performing States (LPS), the remaining states have been named as High performing States (HPS).
The women who deliver in Government hospitals, health centres or even in accredited private hospitals are eligible for the cash assistance, if she is above 19 years. Further, this assistance is as follows:
- In LPS states: Cash assistance for all women
- In HPS states: Cash assistance for ONLY BPL women
- LPS & HPS states: All SC and ST women
Cash assistance and incentive to Asha / other activists is given as follows:
Regarding the Asha’s package, the scheme documents say that It must be ensured that the cash incentive to the ASHA should not be less than Rs.200/- per delivery case facilitated by her. This is essential to keep her sustained in the system. The Assistance package to the ASHA or an equivalent worker is available only if she works and assists the pregnant women. If any pregnant women does not take assistance of any accredited worker, may be because no ASHA is in position, she should be paid the sum total of both the packages