Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

Origin

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), previously known as the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana, is a maternity benefit program run by the government of India. It was originally launched in 2010 and renamed in 2017.

About

• Ministry:
  • Ministry of Women and Child Development
• The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a maternity benefit scheme initiated by the Government of India under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• The scheme was launched in 2017 to provide financial assistance to pregnant and lactating women in the country, aiming to improve their nutritional and health status.
• This scheme plays a crucial role in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates and promoting healthier pregnancies.

Objectives of PMMVY

The primary goals of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana are:

• Provision of Cash Incentives:
  • To provide cash incentives to pregnant women and lactating mothers for the first live birth to improve their health and nutritional levels during pregnancy and after childbirth.
• Support for Maternal Health:
  • To help women access necessary healthcare services during pregnancy, childbirth, and post-delivery care, including nutritional needs.
• Enhance Nutritional Support:
  • To encourage women to follow the prescribed healthcare guidelines and to take proper nutrition, which is crucial for both mother and child.
• Financial Empowerment:
  • To offer financial support to women during a crucial period when they may not be able to work due to pregnancy or childbirth.

Key Features of PMMVY

• Cash Incentive:
  • The PMMVY provides a cash benefit of ₹5,000 to the eligible pregnant and lactating women. The payment is made in three installments:
    • ₹1,000 on early registration of pregnancy.
    • ₹2,000 on the first trimester (after the birth of the child).
    • ₹2,000 after the baby’s immunization, which generally happens at 6 months of age.
• Eligibility:
  • Pregnant and Lactating Women:
    • The scheme is specifically for the first live birth and covers pregnant and lactating women above the age of 19 years.
  • Scheme Target:
    • It aims at providing benefits to women from below the poverty line, those in the unorganized sector, and women who do not have social security cover, which includes the informal sector.
  • Exclusions:
    • Women who are employed in government jobs, PSUs, or have received similar maternity benefits from any other source are excluded from the scheme.
• How It Works:
  • The scheme operates through the Anganwadi centers, healthcare facilities, and other government departments that coordinate with local authorities.
  • The eligible women must register under the scheme to receive the financial assistance. The registration can be done online or offline via Anganwadi centers, ASHA workers, or other local health workers.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT):
  • The cash benefits are directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries using the DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) system. This ensures transparency and reduces leakages, making the scheme more efficient.
• Improved Nutrition and Health Care:
  • The PMMVY scheme helps reduce malnutrition among pregnant women by promoting better health practices and ensuring they get access to necessary care.
• Health & Nutrition Education:
  • Women enrolled in the PMMVY program also benefit from information regarding essential health practices, vaccinations, and breastfeeding techniques.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, a woman must meet the following conditions:

• She must be a resident of India.
• She must be a pregnant woman or lactating mother.
• This benefit is only available for the first live birth.
• The woman should not be receiving any similar maternity benefits from other government programs (such as the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, or schemes under the Labour Ministry).
• Women aged 19 and above are eligible for the scheme.

PMMVY’s Impact on Women and Society

• Improved Maternal Health:
  • The cash incentives and health-related guidance provided under PMMVY help women access timely medical attention, improve their diet, and receive proper care, reducing the risks of maternal complications.
• Increased Birth Registration:
  • The scheme also encourages more pregnant women to register their pregnancy early, which leads to better monitoring and health care throughout the pregnancy and delivery stages.
• Nutritional Benefits for Mother and Child:
  • By ensuring the payment of cash benefits at regular intervals, PMMVY motivates mothers to take appropriate care of their health and nutrition, thereby improving the overall health of both the mother and the child.
• Reduction in Infant Mortality Rates:
  • The PMMVY scheme plays a role in lowering infant mortality rates by promoting adequate vaccination, immunization, and healthcare services for both mother and child.
• Promotes Gender Equality:
  • By providing financial assistance to women during a crucial time in their lives, the scheme empowers women, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and contributes to gender equality.

Challenges Faced by PMMVY

While the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana has been successful in various aspects, there are a few challenges that hinder its full implementation:

• Awareness and Registration:
  • In rural and remote areas, there is limited awareness about the scheme, which leads to a lower number of registrations.
• Delayed Payments:
  • In some cases, the payments to the beneficiaries have been delayed due to administrative or technical reasons, affecting the timely benefits for mothers.
• Limited Reach:
  • Although the scheme aims to benefit a large number of women, some eligible women still do not avail the benefits due to issues like poor accessibility or lack of proper identification.
• Implementation Challenges:
  • In certain regions, there are issues with database integration, which makes the process of direct cash transfer cumbersome.

Conclusion

• The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is an important step towards promoting maternal and child health in India. It has empowered pregnant and lactating women financially and helped improve their health, while also contributing to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality rates.
• The scheme plays a significant role in promoting the overall well-being of women and children, making it a vital part of India’s healthcare and social security infrastructure.
• By addressing the challenges faced in its implementation, the scheme has the potential to positively impact more women and children across the country.

The Government of India continues to focus on expanding the scheme’s reach and improving its efficiency, ensuring that more mothers and their children benefit from this crucial support.