The endeavour of 'Janani Suraksha Yojana' Programme is 1. To promote institutional deliveries 2. To provide monetary assistance to the mother to meet the cost of delivery 3. To provide for wage loss due to pregnancy and confinement Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Contents12
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 only
- C3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) under NRHM aims to:
Promote institutional (hospital) deliveries to reduce maternal and infant mortality (statement 1 correct).
Provide cash assistance to pregnant women from BPL families to cover delivery costs (statement 2 correct).
Statement 3 is WRONG — JSY does NOT provide wage loss compensation for pregnancy. That function belongs to the Maternity Benefit Act (for organized sector workers). JSY's focus is specifically on encouraging women to deliver in hospitals rather than at home.
Answer: 1 and 2 only.
JSY provides cash assistance to encourage hospital deliveries among BPL families, directly targeting India's high maternal mortality rates which were around 212 per 100,000 live births when the scheme launched.
The question tests whether students can distinguish between JSY (cash for delivery costs) and the Maternity Benefit Act (wage loss compensation) - two completely different legal frameworks for maternal support.
Students must know that JSY is narrowly focused on institutional delivery promotion, not broader maternity benefits like wage replacement.
Janani Suraksha Yojana
Indian Economy Janani Suraksha Yojana institutional deliveries monetary assistance
Janani Suraksha Yojana: Safe Motherhood Initiative Under NRHM
JSY promotes institutional deliveries through cash incentives to reduce maternal mortality
Provides ₹1,400 (rural) and ₹1,000 (urban) to BPL mothers for hospital delivery
Does NOT cover wage loss compensation during pregnancy
Launched 2005 under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
What is JSY
Janani Suraksha Yojana is India's flagship conditional cash transfer scheme launched in 2005 under the National Rural Health Mission. It incentivizes pregnant women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families to deliver in hospitals instead of at home, aiming to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
JSY Benefits Structure
Area | Mother's Cash Benefit | ASHA Worker Incentive | Total Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
Rural Areas | ₹1,400 | ₹600 | ₹2,000 |
Urban Areas | ₹1,000 | ₹400 | ₹1,400 |
Key Eligibility & Features
BPL families only — Above Poverty Line families get ₹700 in low-performing states
Age limit: 19+ years for mothers
Birth limit: Up to 2 live births in rural areas, 1 in urban areas
ASHA workers receive performance-based incentives for facilitating deliveries
Integrated approach — links with immunization and family planning services
Question Context
This 2012 UPSC question tests understanding of JSY's core objectives vs exclusions. Statement 3 was the trap — JSY does not provide wage loss compensation, which is covered under the Maternity Benefit Act for organized sector workers.
Trap: Confusing JSY with Maternity Benefit Act — JSY gives delivery cost assistance, MBA gives wage loss compensation
Trap: Thinking JSY covers all mothers — it's BPL-focused with limited coverage for APL families
Trap: Missing the institutional delivery emphasis — JSY specifically promotes hospital births, not home deliveries
Trap: Confusing with Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) which also provides maternity benefits but has different structure
Maternity Benefit Schemes in India
Indian Economy
India's Maternity Benefit Schemes: Comprehensive Comparison
Three main schemes: JSY (delivery costs), MBA (wage loss), PMMVY (nutrition support)
Different target groups: JSY (BPL), MBA (organized workers), PMMVY (all pregnant women)
Wage loss compensation only under Maternity Benefit Act, not JSY
Major Maternity Schemes Comparison
Scheme | Purpose | Target Group | Benefit Amount | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Janani Suraksha Yojana | Institutional delivery costs | BPL pregnant women | ₹1,000-1,400 | Hospital delivery incentive |
Maternity Benefit Act | Wage loss during maternity | Organized sector workers | Full salary for 26 weeks | Paid maternity leave |
PMMVY | Nutrition & health support | All pregnant & lactating women | ₹6,000 in 3 installments | Conditional cash transfer |
IGMSY | Nutrition for mother & child | BPL pregnant & lactating women | ₹6,000 over 3 years | Integrated with ICDS |
Wage Loss vs Delivery Cost Distinction
Wage loss compensation = Salary continuation during maternity leave (MBA covers this)
Delivery cost assistance = Money for hospital charges, transport, medicines (JSY covers this)
Nutrition support = Cash for better diet during pregnancy/lactation (PMMVY covers this)
UPSC frequently tests which scheme covers which type of support — memorize the distinctions
Trap: Assuming JSY covers wage loss — it only covers delivery-related expenses
Trap: Confusing PMMVY with JSY — PMMVY is for nutrition, JSY is for institutional delivery
Trap: Thinking Maternity Benefit Act applies to all women — it's only for organized sector employees
Trap: Missing that some schemes have overlapping beneficiaries but different purposes
National Rural Health Mission
Indian Economy NRHM
National Rural Health Mission: Framework & Key Programs
NRHM launched 2005, later merged into National Health Mission (NHM) in 2013
Umbrella mission covering JSY, ASHA program, rural health infrastructure
Focus on 18 high-focus states with poor health indicators initially
NRHM Framework
National Rural Health Mission was launched in 2005 to provide accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to rural populations, especially in high-focus states with weak health infrastructure. It became the umbrella framework under which multiple health schemes like JSY operate.
Key NRHM Components
# NRHM Programs
## Maternal Health
- Janani Suraksha Yojana
- Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram
- Safe Motherhood Initiative
## Health Workers
- ASHA Program
- ANM Training
- Skill Development
## Infrastructure
- Sub-Health Centers
- Primary Health Centers
- Community Health Centers
- District Hospitals
## Disease Control
- RCH Program
- Immunization
- Communicable Disease ControlASHA Workers Role
Accredited Social Health Activists — trained female community health workers
Performance-based incentives for facilitating institutional deliveries under JSY
Bridge between community and health system — mobilize women for hospital deliveries
Multiple roles: counseling, escort services, immunization support, family planning promotion