The Government of Kerala on November 26, 2024, issued a notification related Maternity Benefit Scheme.
The Government of Kerala has mandated the use of Aadhaar for availing benefits under the Maternity Benefit Scheme, administered by the Labour and Skills Department through the Labour Commissionerate. This scheme provides maternity benefits to female workers registered with 17 welfare boards. Aadhaar authentication simplifies the delivery of benefits, ensuring transparency and efficiency. Those without Aadhaar must apply for enrollment and provide alternative identification documents until their Aadhaar is issued. The Department will ensure widespread publicity and provide Aadhaar enrollment facilities in areas lacking existing centers.
For cases where Aadhaar authentication fails, remedial measures such as iris scans, face authentication, or one-time password-based mechanisms will be adopted. If these fail, physical Aadhaar letters verified through Quick Response (QR) codes may be used. The Department will ensure necessary infrastructure for seamless benefit delivery and adopt exception handling mechanisms outlined in the Direct Benefit Transfer Mission guidelines to prevent exclusion of eligible beneficiaries.
This notification, aimed at streamlining benefit distribution and ensuring inclusivity, is effective from the date of its publication in the Kerala Gazette. The Labour Department is tasked with implementing the required systems and creating awareness among beneficiaries.
[Notification No. 1083/2024]
