Maternity Entitlements
Introduction
Adequate ante-natal and post-natal care is an important right of Indian women and also helps to break the inter-generational cycle of hunger. Some facilities that are meant to be available to them under the Integrated Child Development Services have become legal entitlements under Supreme Court orders. The National Food Security Act, 2013 guarantees every pregnant or lactating woman a free meal at the local anganwadi as well as maternity entitlements of at least Rs 6,000 in installments. Two other schemes have a bearing on maternity entitlements: Indira Gandhi Matrutva Sahyog Yojana and Janani Suraksha Yojana. There is still a long way to go…
