The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved pan-India implementation of a maternity benefit programme for lactating women, but limited the benefits of scheme for the birth of first live child only. The cash incentive of Rs 6,000 will be given in three instalments under the scheme to the mothers. File photo
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved pan-India implementation of a maternity benefit programme for lactating women, but limited the benefits of scheme for the birth of first live child only. The cash incentive of Rs 6,000 will be given in three instalments under the scheme to the mothers.
Earlier, Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana was operational in 56 districts on a pilot basis since 2010. Under the scheme, pregnant and lactating mothers were eligible for a cash incentive of Rs 6,000 for “the first two live births.” But with the present maternity benefit programme (MBP), the benefits will be given only for the first live birth.
“The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex post facto approval to the pan-India implementation of maternity benefit programme which now has been extended to all districts of the country with effect from January 1, 2017,” the government said in a statement.
“A pregnant or lactating woman having her first child will get up to Rs 6,000. Of this, Rs 5,000 will be given by the women and child development ministry in three instalments,” Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters.
Women in regular employment with the Central government or state government or public sector undertakings or those who get similar benefits under any law for the time being are not eligible for the scheme.
Those fulfilling prerequisites of the scheme will receive an initial cash incentive of Rs 1,000 after early registration of pregnancy, Rs 2,000 after at least one antenatal check-up after six months of pregnancy and Rs 2,000 after registration of the child’s birth.
“The eligible beneficiaries would continue to receive the remaining cash incentive according to the approved norms towards maternity benefit under the existing programmes after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman gets Rs 6,000,” the statement said.
The total cost of implementation of the programme from January 1, 2017 to March 31, 2020 would be Rs 12,661 crore. The Centre’s share in this will be around Rs 7,932 crore.