Aadya Shri Sinha, Dikshita Sarmah, Krishnapriya P Sajith, Naseema Begum M, Nihal AK
Gautam, Utkarsha Rautela, Veni Arora

ABSTRACT

This paper looks closely at the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), one of India’s flagship maternal health schemes, through the layered realities of caste, gender, and class. While the scheme has led to a rise in institutional deliveries and helped in reducing maternal and neonatal death rates, these gains have not reached everyone equally. Dalit, Adivasi, and other marginalized women continue to face barriers that go beyond just policy. They face exclusion rooted in deep social hierarchies, everyday discrimination, and a healthcare system that often fails to see them with dignity. Using insights from literature, data trends, and policy reviews, this study brings out the structural gaps that limit JSY’s reach and impact. It draws attention to issues like fund delays, poor quality of care, and the absence of culturally sensitive support systems. The paper ends by suggesting concrete ways forward: from intersectional policy thinking to more inclusive implementation, from ground-up community involvement to systemic change, so that no woman is left behind in her most vulnerable moments.