Background: The Government of India launched the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005 with the aim of providing accessible, accountable, affordable, effective, and reliable primary healthcare, particularly to the poor and vulnerable sections of society. As an integral component of NRHM, the Honourable Prime Minister introduced the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) on April 12, 2005, as a safe motherhood intervention aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.

Since its implementation, JSY has been operational for several years. It is therefore important to review and assess its effectiveness, especially in terms of increasing awareness, institutional deliveries, maternal satisfaction, and quality of care. The scheme offers various benefits, including cash incentives, immunisation services, and free distribution of iron and folic acid tablets to anaemic mothers. Raising awareness among mothers regarding these services is crucial for enhancing the scheme’s impact and identifying areas for further improvement and strengthening.

Need of the Study: Maternal and neonatal mortality remain significant public health concerns in India, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Although the Government of India has implemented the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to address these issues, lack of awareness and inadequate utilization of the scheme continue to hinder its full potential.

In many pastoral and tribal regions, including parts of Dahod City, mothers may remain unaware of the benefits provided by JSY—such as cash incentives, institutional delivery services, free immunization, and nutritional supplements. Cultural beliefs, low literacy levels, and limited access to healthcare information further contribute to underutilization.

Therefore, there is a pressing need to educate and empower mothers through structured and well-planned training programmes. Improving their knowledge about JSY can lead to increased uptake of services, improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes, and overall reduction in mortality rates.

This study aims to assess whether a planned training intervention can significantly enhance mothers’ awareness and understanding of JSY in the selected pastoral areas of Dahod City, thereby supporting the broader goals of safe motherhood and child survival.

1.To assess the pre-test knowledge regarding Janani Suraksha Yojana among mothers in selected pastoral areas of Dahod City.

2.To assess the post-test knowledge regarding Janani Suraksha Yojana among mothers after the implementation of a planned training programme.

3.To estimate the effectiveness of the planned training programme on improving knowledge regarding Janani Suraksha Yojana among mothers.

To determine the association between pre-test knowledge scores and selected demographic variables among mothers.