• JANANI SURAKSHA YOJANA (JSY)

The Government of India has launched a new scheme known by the name of Janani Suraksha Yojna from the year 2005-06 under 100% Centrally Sponsored Schemes. In earlier years National Maternity Benefit Scheme was in vogue in which Rs. 500/- cash assistance used to be given to the pregnant ladies above 19 years of age upto 2 live birth belonging to below poverty line. Now from 2005-06 the Govt. of India has enhanced the cash assistance and has further rendered some new features to the old scheme. JANANI SURAKSHA YOJNA will cover pregnant women from below the poverty line in the rural areas only. The lady will be registered with the health functionary namely A.N.M. or Anganwadi worker etc. she will be helped by the health workers to get antenatal check ups done and Injection Tetanus Toxoid Administered to her. The health workers will also keep a check on the detection of complications of pregnancy, if any, at the earliest. Health workers in consultation with the Medical Officer of the area will help in identifying the area where delivery is proposed to be held. The emphasis will be on the institutional delivery ranging from Sub - Centre, Subsidiary Health Centre, Community Health Centre, Primary Health Centre, C.H.C. or a Civil Hospital even. To ensure Institutional delivery round the clock availability of the facility for normal delivery should be ensured in all these institutional and arrangement to deal with complicated delivery cases should be ensured in the first referral unit where even caesarian section facility should be available 24 x 7. The role of workable referral system can not be over emphasized in this delivery system.

This programme Lays more emphasis in institutional delivery will lead to decrease in maternal mortality and neonatal mortality.

If the lady happens to deliver at home she is entitled to the cash assistance of Rs. 500/- provided she is registered with A.N.M./Anganwadi worker and if she delivers in an institution she will be entitled to receive another amount of Rs. 200/-. If the patient is referred to first referral unit for Caesarian Section and per chance surgeon is not available in the hospital then there is a provision of hiring the services of a Surgeon/Gynaecologist for performing Caesarian Section by paying an incentive of Rs. 1500/-to the operator.

So in this whole scheme the emphasis is on safe institutional delivery. Here because the beneficiaries are poor ladies below the poverty line every effort should be made to pay her the dues as early as possible, preferably before discharge of the patient from the hospital.

To determine the status of BPL family either the lady should possess a card and if she does not possess the card then a certificate from the Panchayat that she belongs to below poverty line is sufficient and she has to be above 19 years of age with first or second living child only.

For quick disbursal of the amount an imprest money upto Rs. 5000/- has to be kept with A.N.M. of the area which can be replenished as and when she uses money out of this. Since the state of Punjab is high performing state that is why the scheme of Janani Suraksha Yojna is applicable to rural areas only. Also there is a provision in the scheme that in each block two hospitals have to be identified and notified where the facilities for the deliveries exist and these two notified hospitals in each block will be treated as institutions where the delivery can be performed.

Senior Medical Officers of each block are required to ensure 24 hours a day delivery in Primary Health Centre.

Government of India has already released the funds under R.C.H. Flexi Pool for distribution for Janani Suraksha Yojna and Rs.11.34 lac has already been distributed to various districts of Punjab to be utilized under this scheme. Now, the Government of India has made further provision under this scheme which will be released to various districts depending upon their utilization and number of beneficiaries identified. Some of the funds are for giving vide publicity to the scheme and stationery etc.