The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) has been a transformative scheme aimed at ensuring financial assistance and healthcare support for pregnant and lactating mothers across India. Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the leading beneficiary state under this scheme, with over 67.15 lakh women receiving benefits amounting to Rs. 2,733.59 crore, according to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Other states with significant enrollments include Madhya Pradesh (46.51 lakh beneficiaries), Bihar (46.90 lakh beneficiaries), and Maharashtra (42.61 lakh beneficiaries). Even smaller Union Territories such as Ladakh (8,588 beneficiaries, Rs. 3.76 crore) and Lakshadweep (3,170 beneficiaries) have actively participated in the program. These numbers highlight the scheme’s expansive reach and its role in improving maternal welfare across India.
The huge number of beneficiaries within these states reflects the government’s attention to improving maternal health and provide monetary support to pregnant and nursing women in areas with high birth rates and socio-economic issues.
PMMVY is a Central Sponsored Maternity Benefit Scheme which provides a direct cash incentive of Rs. 5,000 into the accounts of eligible women through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), supplementing the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), which brings the total maternity benefit to Rs. 6,000. Recognising the need for gender inclusivity, the revised version of PMMVY now extends a Rs. 6,000 cash benefit for the second childbirth, provided the child is a girl. This significant policy shift encourages maternal healthcare for female children and promotes gender equality. This has been done with the intention of encouraging gender equality and promoting mother care for girl child.
Another critical modification introduced in March 2022, where the Government dropped condition of the husband’s Aadhaar card for the rollout of PMMVY for single mothers. This was done to make the scheme more inclusive and accessible to single, abandoned, and widowed mothers who were otherwise not able to benefit from the scheme because of the mandatory furnishing of the husband’s Aadhaar details.
The modification was one of the steps taken by the government to provide universal maternity benefits, as a response to the criticism by activists and stakeholders regarding the exclusion of single mothers and women in challenging situations. By removing this condition, PMMVY now benefits all eligible pregnant and lactating women, irrespective of their marital status, to provide wider social security coverage for maternal health and well-being.
Improvement in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)
One of the most significant effects of PMMVY has been the reduction in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India. The Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality Ratio released by the Registrar General of India indicates a consistent decrease in MMR throughout the nation. India’s MMR has gone down from 113 per 1,00,000 live births during 2016-18 to 97 during 2018-20.
There has been excellent progress in some of the states. Jharkhand’s MMR decreased from 71 to 56, and Uttar Pradesh, with one of the highest MMR rates, decreased from 197 to 167. These statistics reflect that PMMVY combined with other interventions by the government has contributed significantly toward enhancing maternal health centers and financial reach.
Implementation of the Scheme
The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is currently operational in 34 states and Union Territories (UTs) of India. The Government of Odisha is still in the process of enrolling the scheme, while the Government of Telangana has chosen not to introduce PMMVY in the state.
In 29 states and UTs, the scheme is operated by the Women & Child Development Departments, where the Anganwadi Workers register the applications. These applications are subsequently processed at various levels, namely Supervisors, Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), and State Nodal Officers. Meanwhile, in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, the scheme is administered under the Health & Family Welfare Departments. Here, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are responsible for registrations, and the further processing is done by Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Medical Officers, and State Nodal Officers. The day-to-day tracking, registration, and processing of applications are handled by the concerned State and UT Governments.
Initiatives taken for Awareness
The Ministry of Women and Child Development also organises several awareness programs to encourage maternity benefits under PMMVY through the SANKALP-Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) scheme in all states and UTs.They organise Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) and Behavior Change Communication (BCC) activities like Prabhat Pheri (awareness marches), Nukkad Natak (street plays), newspaper ads, radio jingles, selfie campaigns, door-to-door awareness drives, and community outreach programs. Besides, the Ministry also runs special registration campaigns from time to time to maintain all eligible beneficiaries under the scheme.
State-Wise Number of Beneficiaries Enrolled and Fund Released
The PMMVY has made a huge difference in maternal and child health across India. According to recent figures, Uttar Pradesh is at the forefront with more than 67.15 lakh women enrolled and Rs.2,733.59 crore released. Madhya Pradesh is next with 46.51 lakh beneficiaries receiving Rs.2,102.08 crore. Bihar and Maharashtra come next with high numbers of participation at 46.90 lakh beneficiaries, Rs.1,778.86 crore released, and 42.61 lakh beneficiaries, Rs.1,735.73 crore released respectively.
Smaller UTs and states have also been given a boost, with Ladakh (8,588 beneficiaries, Rs.3.76 crore released) and Lakshadweep (3,170 beneficiaries, Rs.1.06 crore released) actively engaging with the programme. The widespread implementation of PMMVY reflects the focus of the central government towards promoting maternal health and financial security among pregnant women.
Recognising the scheme’s role in maternal healthcare and financial empowerment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised PMMVY as a revolutionary step towards ensuring better nutrition and medical care for expectant mothers, reducing maternal and infant mortality, and promoting gender equality. He has emphasised that healthy mothers lead to a healthier society, highlighting how this initiative aligns with his government’s broader goal of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.”
PMMVY has been a landmark initiative in India’s maternal healthcare landscape, ensuring financial security, improved healthcare access, and a gender-inclusive approach to maternity benefits. With 67 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh alone, the scheme’s success reflects the government’s commitment to empowering women and reducing maternal mortality across the country. The expansion of financial support for second childbirth (if female), removal of bureaucratic barriers, and continuous awareness campaigns indicate that PMMVY will continue to be a cornerstone in India’s maternal and child welfare strategy.
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