The central government has decided to limit the maternity benefit to the first child only and now the fund can also be reduced to 50% from 60%. Earlier this benefit was given for two kids but now it may be provided for the first one only.
As per news published in Indian Express, the Women and Child Development ministry is preparing a cabinet note on the matter. A senior officer has told that preparations are being made to talk to PMO and further implementation of the scheme, as it will be limited to the first child only.
Earlier PM Modi made the announcement while addressing the nation on the eve of New Year that pregnant women will be given Rs. 6,000 under the maternity benefit scheme and it will be implemented all over the country.
This scheme was started during the reign of UPA-2 and it was named as The Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY). During UPA-2, it was implemented as a pilot project in 53 districts only out of 650 districts of the country.
In 2017-18, only Rs. 2,700 crore has been allocated for this scheme which is very less. With this amount, only 90 lakh kids out of 2.6 crore kids will be covered and yearly requirement for this scheme, as of now, is Rs. 14,512 crore.
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