Challenges of Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Uttar Pradesh, India: Beneficiary Exclusion and Awareness Gaps

The present study attempts to assess beneficiaries’ awareness of the policy, factors associated with the awareness and challenges of access to Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in Uttar Pradesh. Further, it explores the exclusion of beneficiaries at each level of PMJAY implementation and tries to explain the exclusion by utilising the beneficiaries’ and stakeholders’ narratives. The study adopts descriptive statistics and a probit regression model to assess the awareness level and determine the associated factors, respectively. The findings suggest that a significant proportion of the population is unaware of the basic features of the scheme, and sociocultural and political factors play a significant role in this regard. Furthermore, the study found that the unawareness from both the demand and supply sides restricted many households from utilising the services under the scheme. The study highlights the need for targeted awareness campaigns and improved implementation strategies to utilise PMJAY services effectively. JEL: I13, I18