Matritva, Shishu Evam Baalika Madad Yojana is a welfare scheme launched by the Uttar Pradesh government, primarily implemented through the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.It targets registered construction workers (women and wives of male workers) to support maternal and child health. Benefits include maternity assistance such as three months’ minimum wage plus a Rs 1,000 medical bonus for institutional deliveries (limited to the first two births), a one-time Rs 6,000 for wives of registered male workers, and child benefits like Rs20,000 for a boy child or Rs25,000 for a girl child.Additional support features fixed deposits for girl children (higher amounts for the first or successive girls) and Rs50,000 for disabled girls, maturing at age 18, alongside nutrition aid for infants up to two years. The scheme promotes institutional deliveries, discourages child marriage, and fosters positive societal attitudes toward the girl child while providing financial security to vulnerable labour families.Since assuming office in 2017, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has prioritised maternal, infant, and girl child welfare as part of a broader vision for “healthy families and educated childhood” to drive Uttar Pradesh’s development. This includes strengthening schemes like this one alongside nutrition drives (e.g., Sambhav Abhiyan for reducing stunting and malnutrition), expanded healthcare infrastructure, institutional delivery incentives, and girl-centric initiatives such as financial support from birth through education.The focus integrates labour welfare, nutrition tracking via Anganwadi centres, and population stabilisation efforts, resulting in notable improvements in maternal and child health indicators through better access, accountability, and targeted aid for the poorest sections, especially in the unorganised sector.
Salient features of the scheme
1. Eligibility criteria
- The beneficiary (female construction worker or wife of a registered male construction worker) must be a permanent resident of Uttar Pradesh and above 18 years of age.
- The worker must be registered with the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (UP BOCW) on upbocw. in for a minimum of 90 days (some sources mention at least 1 year of active membership).
- Benefits are limited to the first two deliveries/children only. For girl child benefits, priority is given to the first girl child or cases where both children are girls; legally adopted girls in childless families are also covered. Claims must generally be made within 1 year of the child’s birth. Institutional delivery is required for full maternity benefits.
2. Key benefits
- Maternity Assistance: For registered female workers, equivalent of three months’ minimum wage + Rs1,000 medical bonus for institutional delivery (or Rs6,000 one-time for wives of male workers).
- Child Birth Grant: Rs20,000 for a boy child and Rs25,000 for a girl child (one-time lump sum).
- Additional Support: Fixed deposit for girl children (higher for the first or successive girls), Rs 50,000 for disabled girls maturing at age 18, and nutrition aid for infants up to 2 years. The scheme promotes girl child welfare and discourages child marriage.
3. How to apply
- Online Process: Visit the official portal upbocw. in, log in (or register as a construction worker first), navigate to the scheme section “Matritva Shishu Evam Balika Madad Yojana”, fill in worker and child details, upload required documents, and submit. Track status on the same
portal. - Documents Required: BOCW registration certificate/ID, child’s birth certificate (from municipal/gram panchayat), Aadhaar cards of worker/spouse, Aadhaar-linked bank passbook, hospital discharge summary (for maternity), marriage certificate, and UP domicile
proof. - Offline Option: Apply through nearest Labour Office, Tehsildar, or Block Development Officer with the same documents. Benefits are transferred via
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) after verification.
Two major achievements of Matritva, Shishu Evam Baalika Madad Yojana:
1. Massive outreach to construction worker families
- The scheme has benefited more than 6,22,974 beneficiaries till September 2024, providing direct financial support for maternity, child birth, and girl child welfare.
- This large-scale coverage has significantly reduced the financial burden on unorganised sector families, especially during pregnancy and early childcare, while promoting institutional deliveries and better nutrition for infants up to 2 years.
2. Strong focus on girl child empowerment and positive social impactHigher financial incentives for girl children have encouraged positive societal attitudes toward the girl child and helped curb practices like child marriage. The scheme has contributed to improved maternal and child health indicators in Uttar Pradesh by linking labour welfare with nutrition support and girl-centric financial security, aligning with the broader vision of healthy families and population stabilisation.
