Only last week, the government, in a clandestine move, made it evident that it is endorsing the ‘one child’ policy. The maternity cash benefits, the Women and Children Development Ministry said, will be extended to pregnant women and lactating mothers (PW&LMs) for their ‘first live child,’ only. Of the 1.5 crore women, who have availed of JSY benefits on paper, close to 30 per cent to 40 per cent (between 45 to 52 lakh) were pregnant for the first time. There is a possibility that come April 2018, JSY will be discontinued and cash benefits will only be given to mothers who deliver their first child. Extending benefits for the third child is out of bounds for the government.

Source: dna May 27, 2017 18:11 UTC