More than 9.5 lakhs women avail benefit under the Maternity Benefit Programme during 2014-15 and 2015-16

Scheme to be implemented on a Pan India basis w.e.f. 01.01.2017

            The Maternity Benefit Programme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented through the State Governments/UT Administrations. The Ministry issues guidelines for implementation of the Programme, releases funds in the prescribed cost sharing ratio and monitors implementation of the scheme. Whenever, any incident of non-payment of benefits under the Programme is brought to the notice of the Ministry, the concerned State Government/UT Administration is requested to take necessary action in this regard. Adequate fund have been placed at the disposal of States/UTs for providing maternity benefit to the eligible beneficiaries.

            Earlier this scheme was implemented in selected 53 districts of the country, the Government has approved pan-India Implementation of Maternity Benefit Programme to cover all the districts of the country with effect from 01.01.2017. Year-wise details of funds allotted to the scheme are as under:

Year	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17
Allocations (Rupees in Crore)	BE-520.00 RE-403.00	BE-520.00 RE-93.87	BE-500.00 RE-300.00	BE-400.00 RE-358.00	BE-438.00 RE-233.50	BE-400.00 RE-617.00*

* For implementation of Maternity Benefit Programme.

Details of funds released under the Maternity Benefit Programme during 2011-12 to 2016-17 (Up to 06.03.2017) and number of beneficiaries across the country is as follows:

Year	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16
Funds Released (Rs. In Crores)	293.83	82.57	232.05	343.13	233.46
Beneficiaries	309749	644167	588971	616420	336910
No. Of States not reported data of beneficiaries	4	0	3	8	10

         This information was given by Minister of State for Women & Child Development, Smt Krishna Raj in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Courtesy: pib.nic.in