Who Benefits? Unveiling the Utilisation Pattern of India’s Janani Suraksha Yojana Program

The Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), introduced by the Government of India, aims to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by encouraging institutional deliveries among economically and socially disadvantaged women. We analyse the distribution of JSY benefits using the concentration index (CI) and concentration curves on unit-level data from the National Family Health Survey Rounds 4 and 5. Further, we use logistic regression to examine the influence of household wealth on JSY utilisation. The CI indicates a diminishing pro-poor focus in Low Performing States (LPS) and substantial disparities across caste categories. Although JSY continues to benefit poorer households, this trend has weakened in LPS. This shift is likely driven by increased use of public facilities among all wealth groups and universal eligibility in LPS, which extends benefits to all women delivering in public facilities, irrespective of income. Moreover, JSY utilisation among the poorest households has declined in LPS, particularly among vulnerable groups. We also observe a weakening pro-poor distribution among socially disadvantaged caste groups, with declining utilisation among their poorest subgroups. The findings suggest that universal eligibility alone is insufficient to ensure inclusion of inter-sectionally vulnerable women. Strengthening targeted outreach within socially disadvantaged populations is therefore essential to sustain JSY’s pro-poor impact.