Lok Sabha Question No. 219 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-09
Subject: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DINESH TRIVEDI, MAUSAM NOOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION   NO. 219

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2018

## PRADHAN MANTRI MATRU VANDANA YOJANA

## 219. SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) has diluted the rights of women as the benefits under the programme is conditional and restricted to one child per woman, thereby rendering a large number of women out of its purview and benefits;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for restricting the benefits under the scheme only for the first birth and the low amount of cash incentive/cash transfer thereunder;
- (c) whether the PMMVY  has  been held up by several delays and administrative complications and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  also  reduced  the  allocation  to  the  scheme  in  the  Budget 2018, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  cash  incentives  for  medical  care  and nutritional  support  to  the  women  beneficiaries  under  the  scheme  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

- (a) to (e) A statement has been laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 219 raised by Shri Dinesh Trivedi and Shrimati Mausam Noor for answer on 09.02.2018 regarding Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

- (a)  &  (b)  No,  Madam.  The  Government  has  approved  Pan-India  implementation  of  Pradhan Mantri  Matru  Vandana  Yojana  (PMMVY),  a  new  Centrally  Sponsored  Conditional  Cash Transfer  Scheme,  on  17.05.2017  for  implementation  across  the  country  with  effect  from 01.01.2017. The maternity benefit under PMMVY is available to the eligible beneficiaries for first living child of family. Normally, the first pregnancy of a woman exposes her to new kinds of challenges and stress factors. Hence, the scheme provides support to the mother for the safe delivery and immunization of her first child. Under the scheme Rs.5,000/- are provided to the eligible  beneficiary  in  three  installments.  The  eligible  beneficiary  also  receives  the  remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards maternity benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman gets Rs.6,000/-.
- (c) No,  Madam.  The  Government  has  approved  Pan-India  implementation  of  Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) on 17.05.2017 for implementation across the country with effect from 01.01.2017. The implementation guidelines of the scheme and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana-Common Application Software (PMMVY-CAS) has been launched on 01.09.2017. So far, more than 14 lakhs beneficiaries have been enrolled for receiving maternity benefit on web-based dedicated MIS software PMMVY-CAS. 4,34,970 beneficiaries have been made the payment under the scheme as on 01.03.2018,
- (d) The  proposed  allocation  for  the  financial  year  2018-19  is  Rs.2400.00  crore  against Rs.2449.00 crore as approved by the Government. However, the budgeted allocation for 2018-19 is  sufficient  for  implementation  of  the  scheme  as  substantial  amount  will  be  available  in ESCROW  accounts  of  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  from  the  allocation  of previous year.
- (e) Under PMMVY,  cash incentive is provided to eligible beneficiary as partial compensation for the wage loss so that the beneficiary can take adequate rest before and after delivery of her first child and the cash incentive provided would lead to improved health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.

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