(a) whether the Government has issued guidelines under the Maternity Benefit Programme and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has limited the benefit of the programme to first child only and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government is facing shortage of funds under the programme and has urged the States to bear 50 per cent of the cost; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the effective measures taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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Statement referred to in reply to part (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question Number 154 for answer on 10.03.2017 raised by Shri K.C. Venugopal and Shri P.V. Midhun Reddy regarding Maternity Benefit Programme
(a) The guidelines for pan-India implementation of Maternity Benefit Programme as announced by the Prime Minister on 30.12.2016 are being drafted.
(b) No such decision has been taken.
(c) & (d) No, Madam. Since Maternity Benefit Programme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme the cost sharing ratio between the Centre and the States for implementation of the Programme is as under:
Sl. No. Particulars of States/UTs Cost Sharing Ratio between Center and States
1. States (other than North-Eastern States & Himalayan States) & Union Territories with legislature 60:40
2. North-Eastern States & Himalayan States 90:10
3. Union Territories without legislature 100%
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