Cabinet approves maternity benefit under RSBY

New Delhi, Oct 16: The Union Cabinet on Thursday, Oct 16 gave its approval for inclusion of maternity benefit in Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) subject to the condition that the premimum is within the existing limit of Rs 750 per beneficiary. Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told after the Cabinet meet that the modification would be applicable with immediate effect.

This would encourage institutional delivery of infants among the Below Poverty Line (BPL) workers, he added.

He said the Government had launched the RSBY scheme for the BPL families in the unorganised sector on October 1, 2007 which became operational on April 1, 2008.

The RSBY is being implemented by the state governments through insurance companies by inviting bids from both public and private sectors. Almost all the states have agreed to implement the scheme during the current year.

The States of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu have started the enrolment process and issuance of smart cards. Twelve other states have initiated the process and the remaining are also expected to follow suit.

Till September 23, more than 3.39 lakh smart cards had been distributed. A total of 1,458 people have availed benefits under the scheme, the Minister added.

UNI