DashoVidya IAS–Syllabus Affairs

Governance (January, 2022)

TOPIC – Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

Issue in brief – Five years since its introduction, there is vast scope for improvement in the Pradhan
Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/state-schemes-can-cast-a-lifeline-to-this-welfare-
plan/article38094862.ece

Where in Syllabus:
GS 2: Welfare Schemes

❖ What is Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)?

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) was
rolled out on January 1, 2017, by the Central
Government.
• In this scheme a cash incentive of Rs.5,000 is provided
directly to the bank/post office account of pregnant women
and lactating mothers for the first living child of the
family (subject to fulfilling specific conditions relating to
maternal and child health)’.
• The direct benefit cash transfer is to help expectant and
lactating mothers meet enhanced nutritional requirements
as well as to partially compensate them for wage loss during
their pregnancy.

❖ What are the shortfalls in PMMVY?

Target
• While the estimated eligible population of pregnant
and lactating mothers in India was 128.7 lakh for
2017-18 (as in a report by the Centre for Policy
Research 2019-20), the target set by the
Government was 51.70 lakh beneficiaries, which is
only 40% of the eligible population.
• There has been an exclusion error of at least 60%
since 2017, and the annual estimate of the targeted
beneficiaries by the Government has remained
unchanged over these 5 years.
Achievement
• Since its inception, the PMMVY has covered 2.01
crore women nationally, disbursing a total amount
of Rs. 8,722 crore.
• A total sum of Rs.5,931.95 crore was paid to 1.75 crore eligible beneficiaries between financial year
2018 and 2020. Apart from that, Rs.2,063.70 crore was disbursed in the current fiscal to 65.12 lakh
women.
Deficiencies
• The enrolment and disbursements under the scheme have witnessed a downward fall in the last two
years with a 52% drop in the number of beneficiaries.

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• In 2020-21, more than 50% of registered beneficiaries did not receive all three instalments and there
was a 9% drop in enrolment under the scheme.
• The amount offered is significantly insufficient, most women beneficiaries still continue to work
during and post-pregnancy. Additionally, they also spend on out-of-pocket expenses during
pregnancy.
• The overall budget for women and child development was reduced by 20% for 2021-22. Additionally,
Budget allocation for the PMMVY has also been slashed as it has been clubbed under
SAMARTHYA along with multiple other schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mahila Shakti
Kendra and Gender Budgeting/Research/Training.

❖ What are the causes of reduced number of beneficiaries?

• These gaps stem from a lack of awareness within targeted beneficiaries
• The complicated enrolment and the instalments receiving process
• Low budget allocation, the Budget allocated for the Ministry of Women and Child Development
shrank to 0.7%.

❖ What can be the way ahead?

• Extension of the benefit to the second live birth: Of the total live births in India, 49.5% comprises
first-order births and 29.9% are second-order births, as per Sample Registration Survey 2018. It is
imperative to include second live birth under the maternity benefit cover particularly for women in
the unorganised sector who are more vulnerable to economic shocks and nutrition loss for all child
births.
• An increase in the maternity benefit amount: The current entitlement of Rs.5,000 provided over
one year amounts to one month’s wage loss (as per MGNREGA wage rate of Rs.202). In line with
the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 which mandates 12 weeks of maternity leave for women with two or
more children, pregnant and lactating mothers should receive 12 weeks of wage compensation.
• Simplification of the process: The current registration form requires a mother and child protection
(MPC) card, husband’s Aadhaar card, bank passbook and registration form for each of the three
instalments, resulting in delayed, rejected or pending applications. A simplification of the process can
result in increased registration of beneficiaries.

Basic terms/ related concepts and facts:

• India accounts for a fifth of the total childbirths in the world, with a maternal mortality rate of 113
per 1,00,000 live births.
Other similar schemes by state governments:
• MAMATA (2011) or the maternity entitlement scheme by Odisha
• KCR Kit (2017), by Telangana
• The Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme (MRMBS) by Tamil Nadu

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Practice questions –
Prelims:
Q. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) was rolled out in 2017 to help pregnant
women and lactating mothers. In this context consider the following statements:
1)The scheme is applicable only for the first two live child births.
2)It provides a cash incentive of Rs. 15000 in the form of direct benefit transfer.
3)The PMMVY has been clubbed under SAMARTHYA along with other schemes for
women such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
Which of the statements mentioned above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 only
d) All of the above
Answer: c

Mains: (Level-Advance)
Q. Despite the Government’s continued emphasis on maternal and child health, the overall
budget for women and child development was reduced by 20% for 2021-22. Illustrate its
repercussions on the welfare schemes for women and children. (15 Marks, 250 words)

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