Bihar Janani Bal Suraksha Yojana

The Health Department, Government of Bihar is implementing the Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rates in the state. According to the State Health Society, Bihar, the scheme is implemented as the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) under the National Health Mission (NHM). It is implemented as a safe motherhood intervention, primarily aimed at encouraging poor and needy pregnant women to opt for institutional deliveries. This helps ensure that mothers and newborns receive necessary healthcare services during delivery and contributes to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. The scheme was launched on April 12, 2005, and is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme. Under the scheme, cash assistance is linked with institutional delivery and post-delivery care.

Under the scheme, eligible women who undergo institutional delivery receive cash incentives from the government. According to the JSY incentive package published by the State Health Society, Bihar, a mother undergoing institutional delivery receives ₹1,400 in rural areas and ₹1,000 in urban areas. In addition, an incentive package of ₹600 for ASHA workers in rural areas and ₹400 in urban areas is provided.

In Bihar, ASHA and MAMTA trained health workers have played an important role in taking the Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana to the grassroots level. These health workers assist pregnant women in connecting with health institutions for institutional delivery. As a result of these efforts, the state has recorded a significant increase in institutional deliveries and a decline in both maternal and infant mortality rates. The percentage of institutional deliveries increased from 4% in 2006-07 to 47%, while the maternal mortality rate declined from 312 in 2005 to 165 in 2018-19.

According to the eligibility conditions of the scheme, the applicant should be a pregnant woman or lactating mother residing in Bihar. The woman should also be willing to undergo institutional delivery and follow the health protocols prescribed by the Health Department. Under the Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana, cash assistance under the Janani Suraksha Yojana is available to eligible women from all categories. The main objective of the scheme is to ensure equal access to healthcare services and encourage needy women to opt for institutional delivery.

The application process for the Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana is completely offline. The beneficiary woman has to visit the nearest health centre or hospital and contact an ASHA or MAMTA worker. The required documents are also verified through this process and submitted at the concerned health centre. There is no separate online application portal available for the scheme. There is also no fixed last date for applying, as the scheme is an ongoing scheme.

Benefits of the Scheme

Under the Bihar Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana, the incentive amount is determined according to the area. The official JSY incentive amount published by the State Health Society, Bihar, is as follows:

• Benefits in rural areas: The mother receives ₹1,400, and the ASHA worker receives ₹600 for institutional delivery.
• Benefits in urban areas: The mother receives ₹1,000, and the ASHA worker receives ₹400 for institutional delivery.
• Service benefits: ASHA and MAMTA workers provide guidance and assistance during pregnancy and delivery.

Eligibility Criteria

The official eligibility conditions of the scheme have been kept simple so that more women can be encouraged to opt for institutional delivery.

• The applicant should be a pregnant woman or lactating mother.
• The applicant must be a resident of Bihar.
• The applicant should be willing to undergo institutional delivery.
• The applicant must follow the health protocols prescribed by the Health Department.

Documents Required

To avail the benefits of the Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana, the beneficiary woman must have the following documents:

• Residence proof (Ration Card, Voter ID, etc.)
• Aadhaar Card
• BPL Card (only in case of home delivery)
• Caste Certificate (not mandatory)
• Income Certificate
• Passport-size photograph
• Mobile number

Application Process

Applications for the Bihar Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana are completed through the offline mode. The process is carried out through health centres and field health workers in the following steps:

• To avail the benefits of the Bihar Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana, the pregnant woman should visit the nearest health centre or hospital.
• The ASHA worker present there will register the woman under the Bihar Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana.
• Registration under the scheme will be completed through the Bihar Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana application form.
• The application form for the Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana will be filled out by the ASHA worker.
• After this, the application form will be sent by the ASHA worker to the district Health Department office.
• Under the scheme, the benefit amount will be provided to the woman beneficiary at the same hospital where she delivers the baby.
• In case of a home delivery, the benefit amount will be provided to the beneficiary woman by the ASHA worker.

Important Links

• Bihar Health Department Portal
• Guidelines of Bihar Janani Evam Bal Suraksha Yojana

Contact Information

• Health Advice Helpline (Toll-Free): 104
• Ambulance Service (Toll-Free): 102
• Health Department, Bihar Office Number: 0612-2290328
• Email: [email protected]