Pan-India expansion of Maternity Benefit Programme expected to benefit 52 lakh women annually

Ministry of Women and Child Development on Tuesday said that the Pan-India expansion of Maternity Benefit Programme (MBP) which provides cash incentives to pregnant and lactating women, will benefit 51.70 lakh women annually. 

While addressing India on December 31, 2016, PM Narendra Modi announced announced Pan-India expansion of MBP in all district effective from January 01, 2017. He said Rs 6000 as maternity benefits will be directly transferred in the bank accounts of the pregnant women to undergo institutional delivery/and vaccinate their children.

As per the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Rs 6000 will be transferred in three-installment. First installment would be Rs 3000 and will be paid during early registration of pregnancy preferably within first 3 months.

Second installment of Rs 1500 will be made at the time of institutional delivery and the remaining amount will be sanctioned 3 month after the delivery which would be mainly after child birth registration and when the child has received vaccination.

Cash transfer would be Aadhaar linked through the individual bank/post office account etc. in DBT mode.

The ministry said, "Expansion of MBP will have huge impact on the PW&LM as it will not only provide them compensation for the wage loss but will also provide them adequate nutrition and rest before and after delivery."

It added, "Mothers will have sufficient time to breastfeed the child during first six months of the birth.  Resultantly, it is expected that it will reduce mother mortality rate, IMR, under-nutrition and its adverse effects."

Total cost of the scheme for the balance period of 2016-17 and from 2017-18 to 2019-20 involving Centre and States is estimated to be around Rs 12,661 crore. 

From this, the Government of India’s share for the balance period of 2016-17 would be Rs 584 crore and from 2017-18 to 2019-20 is expected to be Rs 7932 crore.