PMMVY

The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a scheme supported by the central government, aiming to offer financial aid to pregnant and lactating women during their first childbirth. Under PMMVY, eligible beneficiaries receive a cash incentive of ₹5000 distributed in three installments. This initiative aims to ensure adequate nutrition for both the mother and child and help compensate for any loss of income experienced during pregnancy. Implementation of PMMVY is carried out through Anganwadi Centers and approved health facilities.

To qualify for the installments, beneficiaries must meet certain conditions, including early registration of pregnancy and completion of antenatal check-ups. It's important to note that PMMVY excludes women who are already benefiting from similar government schemes. Since its inception, PMMVY has been successful in disbursing over Rs. 5,931.95 crore to approximately 1.75 crore eligible beneficiaries between the financial years 2018 and 2020. This indicates the significant impact and reach of the scheme in providing essential support to women during a crucial phase of their lives.

The PMMVY was introduced in 2017 to replace the earlier Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY), which was started in 2010 to give money to pregnant and lactating women. The old scheme was limited to 53 districts and gave ₹ 6000 per person. The PMMVY expanded this to all districts but reduced the money to ₹ 5000, with the remaining ₹ 1000 given through Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for delivering in hospitals. Janani Suraksha Yojana is a scheme fully funded by the central government. Its aim is to decrease the number of maternal and new born deaths by encouraging pregnant women to give birth in hospitals.

The PMMVY, effective from January 1st, 2017, is a nationwide maternity benefit program. It's run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and is financially supported by the central government. This scheme provides a cash incentive of ₹ 5000 to pregnant women and new mothers aged 19 or above for their first childbirth. The cash is given in three parts, based on meeting specific health and nutrition criteria. Its goal is to compensate for income loss during pregnancy and ensure both mother and child get proper nutrition.

• Implementation through Anganwadi Centers and Health Facilities: The PMMVY is carried out in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare & Empowerment and the Department of Health & Family Welfare through Anganwadi Centers and approved Health facilities.
• Registration Process: Beneficiaries need to submit the required application form, along with relevant documents, at the Anganwadi Center or approved Health facility for registration and claiming installments.
• Direct Benefit Transfer: Beneficiaries are required to provide their Aadhaar details, along with their or their family member's mobile number, and bank or post office account details for receiving the cash incentive through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• Conditions for Instalments: To receive installments:
  • First installment: ₹1000 upon early pregnancy registration.
  • Second installment: ₹2000 after six months of pregnancy, following at least one antenatal check-up (ANC).
  • Third installment: ₹2000 after childbirth registration and the child receiving the first cycle of vaccinations.
• Applicability: The scheme is applicable only for the first live birth and does not cover miscarriages, stillbirths, or abortions.
• Wage Loss Compensation: Women who are employed and have experienced wage loss due to pregnancy are eligible for the scheme.
• Exclusion Criteria: The scheme does not apply to women employed by the Central Government, State Governments, PSUs, or those already receiving similar benefits under any law.
• PMMVY-CAS: The implementation of the scheme is closely monitored by both central and state governments using the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana - Common Application Software (PMMVY-CAS). PMMVY-CAS is a web-based application enabling tracking of beneficiary status, facilitating expedited, accountable, and efficient grievance redressal.

An elligible person can apply for the PMMVY in 2 ways -

1. Offline application: An elligible applicant can get the application form from the Anganwadi center or or approved health facility such as a Primary Health Center (PHC). and then can submit the filled form with required documents there only to the Anganwadi worker or the Health center worker. Then the application is verified by the appropriate health authority and after successful verification, the benefits will be credited directly to the bank or post office account of the applicant in three installments.
2. Online application: The elligible applicant can apply online through the PMMVY online portal or by downloading the PMMVY application form from the official website of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The applicant need to 1st register on the website and then can fill the form after logging in. The scanned copy of the required documents need to be uploaded during the online application process. The application status can also be tracked through the same portal.

• Financial Support: PMMVY offers financial assistance to pregnant and nursing mothers facing income loss due to pregnancy and childbirth.
• Promoting Healthcare: The scheme encourages timely antenatal care, institutional delivery, and immunization, thereby reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
• Encouraging Healthy Behavior: PMMVY promotes healthy practices such as early pregnancy registration, exclusive breastfeeding, and proper complementary feeding, essential for enhancing maternal and child nutrition.
• Contributing to SDGs: By addressing maternal health, child health, gender equality, and poverty reduction, PMMVY contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Awareness: Many eligible women are unaware of the scheme or struggle to access the registration centers.
• Delays in fund transfers to beneficiaries are common due to issues like incomplete Aadhaar linkage or incorrect bank details.
• Exclusionary: The scheme excludes certain groups, like women with multiple children or those not facing wage loss, which leaves out many who may need assistance.
• Inadequate: The cash incentive provided under the scheme, in three installments, may not adequately cover the increased expenses and nutritional needs of pregnant and nursing mothers, especially considering rising inflation and food prices.

The government's maternity benefit scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), has reached over 1.75 crore eligible women by the end of the financial year 2020. A total amount of Rs. 5,931.95 crore has been disbursed to these beneficiaries between the financial years 2018 and 2020.

Kudumbashree in Kerala:

• Launched in 1998 to eradicate absolute poverty through community action.
• Largest women empowering project in India, consisting of microcredit, entrepreneurship, and empowerment components.

Poshan Abhiyaan:

• Launched in March 2018 to enhance the nutritional status of children (0-6 years) and pregnant/lactating mothers.
• Aims for time-bound improvement in nutritional outcomes.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme:

• Provides targeted interventions for vulnerable groups, including children under 6 years and women.
• Implemented by - Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN):

• Provides assured, dignified, respectful, and quality healthcare at no cost for every woman and newborn visiting public health facilities.
• Aims to end all preventable maternal and newborn deaths by ensuring zero tolerance for denial of services.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY):

• A demand promotion and conditional cash transfer scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM).
• Launched on April 12, 2005, it promotes institutional delivery, especially among pregnant women from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds.
• Implemented in all states and UTs, with special emphasis on low performing states.
• Aims to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates by integrating cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care.

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK):

• Ensures free delivery, including caesarean section, in public health institutions for every pregnant woman.
• Provides free transport, diagnostics, medicines, and other essentials.

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA):

• Offers pregnant women a fixed day, free of cost antenatal check-up by a Specialist/Medical Officer on the 9th day of every month.

LaQshya(LABOUR ROOM & QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE):

• Enhances the quality of care in labour rooms and maternity operation theatres.
• Aims to ensure pregnant women receive respectful and quality care during delivery and immediate post-partum period.

Monthly Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND):

• Conducted at Anganwadi centers to provide maternal and child care services, including nutrition, in convergence with the ICDS.

Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Portal:

• A web-enabled tracking system for pregnant women and newborns.
• Ensures seamless provision of regular and complete services, including antenatal care and institutional delivery.

In moving forward with the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), it's crucial to focus on several key areas to enhance its impact and effectiveness. Firstly, increasing awareness and outreach about the scheme is essential. This can be achieved by leveraging various media channels and platforms to reach potential beneficiaries. Additionally, Anganwadi Centers and approved health facilities should actively identify and enroll eligible women, providing them with necessary information and guidance.

Secondly, streamlining the payment process is vital to ensure timely and hassle-free disbursement of the cash incentive. Simplifying the application process, verifying documents efficiently, and addressing technical issues promptly are crucial steps in this regard.

Thirdly, expanding the coverage of the scheme is necessary to reach a broader demographic. Considering including women with second or subsequent live births, those not facing wage loss, and even those in regular government employment can help address the diverse needs of pregnant and lactating women.

Finally, enhancing the cash incentive amount is crucial to meet the additional expenses and nutritional requirements of beneficiaries adequately. A realistic revision of the incentive amount will ensure that pregnant women and lactating mothers receive adequate support for their health and well-being. These measures collectively can further strengthen PMMVY's role in promoting maternal and child health and ensuring a dignified life for women and children across India.