The National Maternity Benefit Scheme was introduce in 2001 to provide nutrition support to pregnant women. Under this scheme BPL, pregnant women are given a one-time payment of Rs. 500/- 8–12 weeks prior to delivery. In the year 2005, the Government of India launched the Janani Suraksha Yojana under the National Rural Health Mission to provide cash incentives for women to have an institutional delivery. The NMBS was merged into the JSY and with the intervention of the Supreme Court the benefits under the NMBS retained, irrespective of place of delivery.

All BPL pregnant women should be paid Rs. 500/- under NMBS 8–12 weeks prior to delivery for each of the first two births.
The benefit under NMBS/JSY must be paid irrespective of place of delivery, and also irrespective of age and number of children.

One of the key components of the National Rural Health Mission is to provide every village in the country with a trained female community health activist – ‘ASHA’ or Accredited Social Health Activist. Selected from the village itself and accountable to it, the ASHA will be trained to work as an interface between the community and the public health system.

The Yojana has identified ASHA, the accredited social health activist as an effective link between the Government and the poor pregnant women in l0 low performing states, namely the 8 EAG states and Assam and J&K and the remaining NE States. ASHA will be the first port of call for any health related demands of deprived sections of the population, especially women and children, who find it difficult to access health services.

Pregnant women living below poverty line

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