The Government of India is going to introduce the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) from 1st January, 2017. The PMMVY Scheme is being implemented under the provisions of Section 4 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 which provides for financial assistant to pregnant and lactating mothers in order to improve health and nutrition for any pregnant or lactating mother and infant, as well as recompense for wage loss, if any.
Also, all pregnant women and lactating mothers in regular employment with an employee of the central Government or of State Government or of one of the public Sector Undertaking or who are entitled to similar benefits by any law for the time being in force, shall not be entitled to the benefits provided under PMMVY.
PMMVY benefits are available to a woman for the first two children provided the second child is a girl. In respect of the first child, ₹5000 will be provided to the woman under PMMVY in two parts, and for the second child, ₹6000 will be given to the woman under PMMVY provided the second child is a girl child in one part after the birth. However, to get the benefit for the second child, registration during pregnancy will be necessary as this scheme will help better the Sex Ratio at Birth and to prevent female foeticide.
Benefits can only be availed on the Aadhaar Number of Beneficiary, which should exclude any duplication or malpractice.
The Objectives of the PMMVY
To provide cash incentive for partial compensation for the wage loss so that the woman can take adequate rest before and after delivery of the first child;
To improve health seeking behavioral amongst the Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM).
To promote positive behavioral change towards girl child by providing additional cash incentive for the second child, if that is a girl child.
The criteria for determining socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society will be the following:
- Women belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes;
- Women who are partially (40%) or fully disabled (Divyang Jan)
- Women holder of BPL ration Card
- Women Beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Jan AarogyaYojana (PMJAY) under Ayushman Bharat.
- Women holding E-shram card
- Women farmers who are beneficiaries under Kishan Samman Nidhi
- Women holding MGNREGA Job Card
- Women whose net family income is less than Rs. 8 Lakh per annum
- Pregnant and Lactating AWWs/ AWHs/ ASHAs
- Any other category as may be prescribed by the Central Government
