Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a cash incentive safe motherhood scheme launched in 2005 under National Rural Health Mission with the objective of reducing maternal and neo-natal mortality by promoting institutional delivery among the poor pregnant women, with special focus on low performing states. JSY, which is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme, is being implemented in all states and UTs in India. The scheme has identified ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) as an effective link between the Government and poor pregnant women in 10 low performing states, namely the 8 Empowered Action Group (EAG) states and Assam and Jammu & Kashmir. Under this scheme the states have been stratified in Low Performing States (LPS) and High Performing States (HPS) for proving cash incentives. Again, a woman from LPS category receives a cash incentive of Rs. 1000-1400 per institutional delivery whereas a woman from HPS category gets Rs. 600-700 per institutional delivery. Furthermore, there is separate provision of Rs. 250/- for transport in case of emergency with another provision of Rs. 1500/- for the management of obstetric complications in caesarian delivery if needed. Besides this, if a BPL pregnant woman above age 19 years wants to deliver at home, she will be given a cash incentive of Rs. 500/- per delivery, up to two live births to meet the on delivery and post delivery expenses.

KEYWORDS: Janani Suraksha Yojana, health condition, illiteracy, poverty