The cash on delivery scheme promoted by the central government through Janani Suraksha Yogana (JSY) has benefited pregnant women, says a new study done by the international medical journal Lancet. The article gives a positive response of the scheme by saying ‘in just 4 years, its beneficiaries multiplied 11-fold, from 0.74 million in 2005—06 to 8.43 million in 2008 -09 (thus covering nearly a third of the 26 million women who deliver in the country annually).’  

The cash on delivery scheme ‘showed a reduction of around four perinatal and two neonatal deaths per 1000 livebirths as a result of the JSY, 2—3 years into the programme,’ said the report. “This period has shown that India can embark on bold big-ticket initiatives for maternal, newborn, and child health,” the study further added.

In 2008, newborn deaths per 1,000 live births were, with one in five newborn deaths in the world occurring in India.

However, the study also shows that the JSY, which was launched in 2005, is yet to achieve its overarching goal and suggested that the project strengthen, streamline, and deepen its implementation programme.

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