Cash incentive guaranteed under government scheme only a myth for pregnant women in Jharkhand

Cash incentive guaranteed under government scheme only a myth for pregnant women in Jharkhand

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Pregnant women in a village in #Jharkhand struggling to receive cash incentive under govt scheme. http://bit.ly/1UXgO7g

Guaranteed cash incentive in 48hrs. Pregnant women in #Jharkhand waiting for it for 2.5yrs. http://bit.ly/1UXgO7g

Cash incentives guaranteed to pregnant women under the government scheme of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) are only a myth for women living in Indira village of Jharkhand.

Nearly 70 women in the village, which is a part of Churchu block in Hazaribag district of the state, are yet to receive the cash incentive of Rs. 1400 guaranteed under the scheme.  

Nuresha Khatun, a resident of the village says: “I had a baby girl at a government hospital but I am yet to receive Rs. 1400. I have sent my application twice, I have even sent my photo with my daughter twice, but no progress has been made.”

Under the JSY scheme, if any pregnant women living in remote areas undergoes a health check up or treatment in any  government medical centre, nursing home, primary health centre, community  healthcare centre, government district hospital or state-certified hospitals, they are entitled to receive a sum of Rs 1400 after being admitted in the hospital for 48 hours.

But many in the village are waiting to receive the cash incentive for more than two and a half years.

This is a ground report by Video Volunteer (VV) community correspondent, Chunnu Hansda. This series on community monitoring of maternal health is supported by Oxfam India.

Pregnant women living below poverty line in India are entitled to two government schemes -- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK). 

Under them they are entitled: 

• Free and cashless delivery
• Free drugs and consumables
• Free diet during stay in the health institutions

Another resident of Indira village, Kavita Devi said: “The government has made this provision for us in the JSY scheme, so why do we have to run from pillar to post to get the money entitled to us? If they don’t want to give us the money, they can just stop the provision in the scheme.”

Written by: Oxfam India staff

Video source: Video Volunteers