Rajya Sabha Q & A Maternity Benefit Programme
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1743
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2017
MATERNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMME
1743.SHRI AJAY SANCHETI
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the highlights of the Maternity Benefit Programme announced by the Government;
(b) the blocks/districts selected for implementation of the programme, State-wise;
(c) whether the programme has the condition that women must not have more than two living children; and
(d) if so, whether Government proposes to relax this condition to bring more women especially of dalit and tribal community under it?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)
(a) & (b) The programme envisages payment of Rs.6,000/- to eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM) in all the blocks/districts of the country to improve their health seeking behaviour and nutrition status. The payment is to be made in installments subject to fulfilment of certain health and nutrition conditions through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. This benefit would be available to eligible PW&LM except those who are in regular employment with the Central Government or State Government or Public Sector Undertaking or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force.
(c) No such decision has been taken so far.
(d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.
Source: Rajya Sabha