About Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):
- It is a centrally sponsored scheme under Mission Shakti’s sub-scheme 'Samarthya', providing direct financial assistance through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
- It is designed to support pregnant women and lactating mothers.
- The scheme is to provide maternity benefits to women belonging to socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society.
- It aims to improve health-seeking behaviour among pregnant women and lactating mothers and ensure better maternal and child health outcomes across the country.
- Benefits:
- Under PMMVY, a cash incentive of Rs 5,000 is provided in two installments directly to the bank/post office account of pregnant women and lactating mothers for the first child in the family.
- The eligible beneficiaries also receive the remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards Maternity Benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery so that, on average, a beneficiary gets Rs 6,000.
- Cash incentive of Rs 6,000 is also provided under PMMVY to eligible beneficiaries for a second child subject to the second child being a girl.
- In case of miscarriage/stillbirth, the beneficiary would be treated as a fresh beneficiary in the event of any future pregnancy.
- The implementation of the Scheme is done by officials of States and UTs through their field functionaries using the new Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana Software (PMMVYSoft) that was launched in March, 2023.
- Under PMMVYSoft, Aadhaar authentication through UIDAI is done digitally, and National Payment Corporations of India (NPCI) verification is ensured so that funds are directly transferred to their DBT-enabled Aadhaar-seeded bank or post office accounts.
- 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 Aarogya Yojana (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
- Further, all pregnant women and lactating mothers in regular employment with the central Government or State Government or Public Sector Undertaking or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force shall not be entitled to benefits under PMMVY.
