Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana Celebrated as ‘God Bharai’ ceremony in Rajasthan

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): It is a maternity benefit program implemented by the Government of India. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to pregnant women and lactating mothers for their health and nutrition needs during pregnancy and childbirth. PMMVY is a part of the larger Maternity Benefit Program, which seeks to improve the overall health and well-being of mother and child. PM Matru Vandana Yojana is also important for UPSC Prelims Exam and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2: Governance, Administration and Challenges- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes).

PM Matru Vandana Yojana in News

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has commended the unique initiative of celebrating the ‘Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana’ as the ‘God Bharai’ ceremony in Dausa, Rajasthan.

• In a series of tweets, Smt Jaskaur Meena, Member of Parliament from Dausa, Rajasthan, shared the details of this special event.
• Smt Jaskaur Meena further highlighted that in Rajasthan alone, around 3.5 lakh women have benefited from this scheme during the year 2022-23.
• The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana has proven to be a significant support system for pregnant women, ensuring their access to essential healthcare services and promoting the health of both mother and child.

Celebrating PM Matru Vandana Yojana as ‘God Bharai’ ceremony

In Dausa, pregnant women gather together to celebrate the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana scheme, where they are provided with a ‘Poshan Kit’ for the health and well-being of their babies.

• By celebrating the scheme as the ‘God Bharai’ ceremony, the community comes together to acknowledge the importance of maternal health and recognize the role of expectant mothers in nurturing the next generation.
• This unique approach not only creates a sense of celebration but also emphasizes the significance of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana in ensuring the well-being of pregnant women and their babies.
• The success of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana in Rajasthan highlights the positive impact and reach of the scheme, reflecting the government’s commitment to prioritizing maternal and child health.
• The ‘God Bharai’ ceremony serves as an inspiring example of how innovative approaches can be employed to create awareness and ensure the effective implementation of welfare schemes benefiting pregnant women across the country.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) Details

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. On January 1, 2017, the Government rolled out the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) for ensuring the good health of pregnant women and child.

• About: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a ‘cash incentive scheme for pregnant and lactating women.
• Implementation: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a centrally sponsored scheme and is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Cash Incentives: Under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a cash incentive of ₹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.
• Key Objective: PMMVY is aimed at improving health-seeking behaviour and compensating for wage loss for pregnant women, particularly in the unorganised sectors.

PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) Performance

Since the inception of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), it has covered 2.01 crore, women, nationally, disbursing a total amount of ₹8,722 crores.

• Accessibility: 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 PMMVY scheme.
• Exclusion Error: While the estimated eligible population of pregnant and lactating mothers in India was 128.7 lakh for 2017-18, the target set by the Government was 51.70 lakh beneficiaries.

PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Associated Concerns

There has been many gaps in the implementation and other aspects of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY). Few of the concerns associated with Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) are discussed below in detail-

• Poor Coverage: Only 40% of the eligible population are covered under PMMVY (only 51.70 lakhs out of 128.7 lakhs).
  • This leads to an exclusion error of at least 60% since 2017, as the target has remained unchanged over the years.
• Downfall in the Beneficiary enrollment: The enrolment and disbursements under the PMMVY scheme have witnessed a downward fall in the last two years.
• Reduced Budget: 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.
  • 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.
  • The overall budget of SAMARTHYA is ₹2,522 crore, which is nearly equivalent to the budget of PMMVY alone in the previous financial years.
• Implementation gaps: These gaps in the PMMVY scheme leads to reduced coverage. These gaps stem from a lack of awareness within targeted beneficiaries and process level challenges.

PM Matru Vandana Yojana Way Forwards

Following steps are suggested to fill various gaps associated with the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)-

• Expanding Scope: Government should extend the maternity benefit under the PMMVY 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 particularly for women in the unorganized sector who are more vulnerable to economic shocks and nutrition loss for all childbirths.
• Increasing the Cash Benefits: The current entitlement of ₹5,000 provided over one-year amounts to one month’s wage loss (as per the MGNAREGA wage rate of ₹202).
  • In line with the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (mandates 12 weeks of maternity leave) pregnant and lactating mothers should receive 12 weeks of wage compensation amounting to ₹15,000.
  • This is important as most women continue to work during and post-pregnancy since they cannot afford to lose wages; additionally, they also spend on out-of-pocket expenses during pregnancy.
• Simplifying the Process: A simplification of the process for PMMVY benefits can result in increased registration of beneficiaries.
  • 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.

Conclusion

The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana reflects the government’s commitment to promoting maternal and child health and reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in the country. By providing financial support and encouraging proper healthcare utilization, the scheme aims to empower women and create a healthier and more secure environment for both mothers and their children.

• PMMVY has been instrumental in extending maternity benefits to a large number of women across the country, contributing to the overall welfare and development of the nation.
• The scheme not only supports women during their pregnancy journey but also emphasizes the importance of maternal health and child care, thereby laying the foundation for a healthier future generation.

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