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Step 2.12. Maternity Benefits

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What is Maternity benefits scheme?

Assistance for the delivery of a child by a registered female construction worker involves the Secretary or another authorized officer of the Board sanctioning Rs.50,000 for the first two deliveries of a male or female child, upon the worker's application and presentation of proof of childbirth.

What is the eligibility criteria for accessing benefits from the scheme? 

The Amount shall be sanctioned, only if the conditions are fulfilled namely.

  1. The registered woman construction worker can get this assistance only twice [and that the second claim application shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating that the claim is for second delivery].
  2. The registered woman construction worker shall have no dues payable to the Board and
  3. The registered woman construction worker shall not be given this assistance if she already has two living children.
  4. The certification of registration of birth obtained from the registrar of births and deaths or certificate of delivery in a government or private hospital in the state of Karnataka duly signed by the doctor concerned from the institution shall be produced along with the application.

What type of documents required for application?

  1. Proof of Identity/Smart card issued by the Board(Attested)
  2. Affidavit for second child
  3. Proof of Bank Account
  4. Photo of Child
  5. Employment Certificate
  6. Discharge Summary
  7. Birth Certificate of Child

Key factors for getting benefits from Karmika Arogya Bhagya: Critical and enabling factors.

Benefits

Amount (Rs.)

Frequency

Applies to

Contribution by worker (Rs.)

Time specified (days)

Time taken (days)

Fee specified (Rs.)

Money spent (Rs.)

Timeline for submission
Maternity benefits 50,000 One-time Women worker- first 2 children           within 6 months of delivery

What is the procedure to apply?

  1. Applicant needs to submit the application.
  2. Application processing and Verification by Senior/ Labour Inspector.
  3. Review and Approval by Labour Officer

Why do construction workers often fail to receive the benefits they are entitled under Maternity benefits?

Eligibility conditions- 
Maternity benefits are exclusively available to women registered as construction workers. 

Lack of awareness and trust among workers-

  1. Lack of awareness amongst women workers to avail this scheme.

Policy design issues-

  1. If the husband is a construction worker, his pregnant wife, as the spouse of a construction worker, is not eligible for this facility.
  2. Miscarriages are considered as live births, and the eligibility criteria stipulate that only two live births are allowed under the scheme.
  3. To access this benefit, pregnant women are required to provide a work certificate demonstrating 90 days of employment before delivery. However, it may be challenging for a pregnant woman to engage in strenuous work for the full 90 days preceding delivery.

On-ground implementation-

  1. This scheme does not cover home deliveries, where women give birth at home. In such cases, since there is no discharge summary, they are unable to apply for the benefits.

Annexure:

What is the procedure to apply?

  1. Applicant needs to submit the application.
  2. Application processing and Verification by Senior/ Labour Inspector.
  3. Review and Approval by Labour Officer

 

 

 

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