Effect of Monetary Incentives on Institutional Deliveries: Evidence from the Janani Suraksha Yojna in India

DONGRE, AMBRISH (2010): Effect of Monetary Incentives on Institutional Deliveries: Evidence from the Janani Suraksha Yojna in India.

Abstract

This paper is the first attempt to rigorously evaluate the short term effects of the `Janani Suraksha Yojna' (Safe Motherhood Scheme), a nationwide conditional cash transfer program in India, launched in April 2005. Under the scheme, a woman delivering her child in a medical facility is provided monetary rewards. My difference-in-difference results indicate that in the initial one and a half years of its operation, the scheme did not have any effect on the disparity between the targeted and non-targeted states. In fact, the gap widened in this period, albeit marginally. But beginning from 2007, the targeted states have shown much larger improvements in the institutional deliveries, leading to a dramatic decline in the gap between the targeted and the non-targeted states. I also show that the convergence or differential improvement in access and availability of medical facilities are not driving my results.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Janani Suraksha Yojna; Cash Transfer Program in India; Institutional Deliveries
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I18 - Government Policy ; Regulation ; Public Health; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I3 - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty > I38 - Government Policy ; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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