Step 2.4. Maternity Benefits

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.

To gain benefits from the scheme, proof of child birth is necessary.

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 twicetwice.
[and that the second
2. Second claim application shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating that the claim is for second delivery].delivery.
   
3. The registered woman construction worker shall have no dues payable to the Board andBoard.
   
4. The registered woman construction worker shall not be given this assistance if she already has two living children.
   
5. 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 typeare ofthe documentsrequirements requiredto forget application?

a Maternity benefits?

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

What type of documents required for application?

Key factors for getting benefits under maternity scheme.

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

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