New Delhi, May 18 (KNN) The Maternity Benefit Programme will now be implemented Pan-India with effect from January 1, 2017 as the Union Cabinet gave its nod for the same.

“The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to Pan-India implementation of Maternity Benefit Program which now has been extended to all districts of the country w.e.f. 01.01.2017,” said a Cabinet release.

Pan-India implementation of Maternity Benefit Program was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on December 31, 2016.

The Program will provide compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentives so that the women can take adequate rest before and after delivery and not be deprived of proper nutrition.

The total cost of the proposal for the period from 01.01.2017 to 31.03.2020 including Central and State Government share is Rs.12,661 crore. Government of India’s share during the period 01.01.2017 to 31.03.2020 comes to around Rs. 7932 crore.