National Event on Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

GS Paper II Governance and Social Justice

Context:

Recently, the National Event on Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) was held in Mumbai.

The event highlighted significant aspects and achievements of PMMVY, its journey, and the features of the PMMVY Portal and Mobile App.
A new PMMVY Portal (PMMVYsoft MIS) has been developed that includes new features such as ‘facial authentication technology’ by UIDAI to verify eligible beneficiaries properly.
Additionally, it incorporates NPCI Verification of beneficiary bank accounts to ensure smooth fund transfers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Furthermore, it introduces a paperless online registration system for beneficiaries and Anganwadi/ASHA workers to register directly through the portal.

It is a Maternity Benefit Programme being implemented as per provisions under Section 4 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India is nodal ministry.
It has been revised and incorporated as a component of Mission Shakti from 1st April 2022, as PMMVY 2.0.
PMMVY Objectives
- Providing partial compensation for the wage loss in cash incentives so that the woman can rest adequately before and after delivery of the first living child.
- The cash incentive provided would improve health-seeking behavior amongst Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW& LM).
- The scheme also seeks to promote positive behavioural change towards girl child by providing additional cash incentive for the second child, if that is a girl child.
Target beneficiaries under PMMVY Scheme:
- All Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers, (excluding PW&LM who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or PSUs or those who receive similar benefits under any law for the time being in force).
- A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under the scheme only once.

National Food Security Act, 2013

The objective of the act is to provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices.
The act provides that Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious “take home ration” of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months.
Children 6 months to 14 years of age are to receive free hot meals or “take home rations”.

Janani Suraksha Yojana

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NHM).
It is being implemented to reduce maternal and infant mortality by promoting institutional delivery.
All pregnant women delivering in government health centers will receive Rs. 1000 cash assistance.

Case of Miscarriage/ Still Birth: the beneficiary would be eligible to claim the remaining installment (s) in case of any future pregnancy.
Case of Infant Mortality: she will not be eligible for claiming benefits under the scheme if she has already received all the installments.
Benefits under PMMVY
- Cash incentive of Rs 5000 in three installments.
- 1st installment of Rs 1000 on early registration of pregnancy.
- 2nd installment of Rs 2000 after six months of pregnancy on receiving at least one ante-natal check-up (ANC).
- 3rd installment of Rs 2000 after childbirth is registered and the child has received the first cycle of BCG, OPV, DPT, and Hepatitis B, or its equivalent/substitute.
The eligible beneficiaries would receive the incentive given under the (JSY) for Institutional delivery. The incentive received under JSY would be accounted towards maternity benefits so that on average a woman gets Rs 6000.