DEPUTATION TO THE HEALTH SECRETARY

KOLKATA, 20th November, 2017: Today a team of 10 members from different organizations had submitted a deputation to Anil Verma, the Health Secretary of West Bengal, regarding the demands of Maternity Benefits under section 4(B) of the National Food Security Act. 2013.  Dr. Aurobindo Ghosh, AMD, National Health Mission was also present. The Health Secretary said that he would try to start giving beneficiaries  maternity benefits from 1st January, 2018. The team demanded that no conditions such as number of children, age of mother should be imposed in choice of beneficiary. At first the health secretary denied to provide the facilities to the pregnant and lactating woman under 19, but when members in the deputation team drew his attention to the fact that nutrition is essential for every individual child and mother, he agreed to talk the Central Government on this matter. The team has also submitted a deputation regarding the delayed and irregular payments to the ‘Dhai’s and also demanded to increase their payments by the deputation.
 The team consisted of representatives from the Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity, Shramajivi Mahila Samity, Karmajivi Mahila Parishad, Udayani Social Action Forum and Durbar Mahila Sammanvay Committee. A copy of their letter to the Health Secretary is given below.




To Shri Anil Verma,
Principal Secretary
Health Department
Swasthya Bhawan
Salt Lake,
Kolkata
Date:- 20 November 2017
 Dear Sir,
Right to Food and Work Campaign, West Bengal is part of a nationwide campaign who actively organize awareness campaigns for the right to food of the citizen and resident of the state. This Platform is also championing the cause of common people for their right to food and work since decades. The campaign is also very much active in your state and working in near about 18 districts of your state.
It is also important that the campaign is very much concern about the maternity benefits guaranteed under the National Food Security Act, 2013 and organizing awareness campaigns so that all the pregnant and lactating women can avail these facilities.
In this regard we would like to inform you that the campaign has found certain discrepancies to implement the said provision of maternity benefit as follows:
• Section 4 (b) of the National Food Security Act, 2013 states that
“4. Subject to such schemes as may be framed by the Central Government, every pregnant woman and lactating mother shall be entitled to—
(b) maternity benefit of not less than rupees six thousand, in such instalments as may be prescribed by the Central Government:

Provided that all pregnant women and lactating mothers in regular employment with the Central Government or State Governments or Public Sector Undertakings or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force shall not be entitled to benefits specified in clause (b).”

Also section 1(3) of the said Act, 2013 stated that “Save as otherwise provided, it shall be deemed to have come into force on the 5th day of July, 2013.”

But till date not a single woman has received these facilities though a number of women have applied for the said benefit.



• Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the 31st Night, 2016 declared that maternity benefit of Rs. 6000/- would be disbursed to the eligible women but in reality the picture is completely different and the benefit is yet to be received by the beneficiaries.
• From some source we learnt that the state of West Bengal has already received whatever fund has been released by the Central Government but still disbursal of the amount is being delayed.



In the above circumstances we are demanding:


1. Maternity Benefit of Rs. 6000/- should be given immediately to all the pregnant and lactating women.
2. No conditions such as number of children, age of mother etc. should be imposed in choice of beneficiary.
3. All the pending applications since the date of 5th day of July, 2013 should be considered first, also interest for the delayed payment shall be given.
4. Maternity Benefit should be given retrospective effect from 5th day of July, 2013 as i.e. the date on which the National Food Security Act, 2013 came in to effect.

Your cooperation to fulfil our demands is highly solicited.
Thanking You

Right to Food and Work Campaign, West Bengal