Aadhaar glitches and payment delays stall Gujarat's maternity benefit payouts, study finds

A study cited by The Times of India has found that a significant number of eligible women in Gujarat are not receiving maternity benefits on time. The research points to two main bottlenecks: difficulties in linking beneficiaries to their Aadhaar numbers and delays in the disbursement of funds by the state machinery. These hurdles are causing financial strain for expectant mothers who rely on the scheme for prenatal and postnatal expenses. The report urges state authorities to streamline Aadhaar verification processes and accelerate payment cycles to ensure the intended support reaches beneficiaries without further lag. Officials have been asked to review the implementation framework and address the identified gaps promptly.