Lok Sabha Question No. 1894 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-06
Subject: Food Security for Pregnant Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Sasikanth Senthil, Adv Dean Kuriakose, Shri K Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1894 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2024

## FOOD SECURITY FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

1894.  SHRI K SUDHAKARAN: ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE: SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether the Government is aware that restricting maternity benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) to one or two children per family contravenes the National Food Security Act (NFSA), which mandates these benefits to all pregnant women and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)      whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  extend  maternity  benefits  to  all pregnant women as stipulated under the NFSA and if so, details thereof and the timeline for implementation;
- (c)      whether the Government proposes to increase the current benefit amount of Rs.6000 per child in line with inflation and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)      the details of the budget allocation and utilisation of funds for providing nutritious food to all pregnant women in the country during the last ten years State-wise including Kerala?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a) to (c) The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) provides that subject to such schemes as may be framed by the Central Government, every Pregnant Women & Lactating Mother (PW&LM), except those who are 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 be entitled to maternity benefit of not less than rupees six thousand, in such instalments as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has notified Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana Rules, 2022 (PMMVY Rules) under sub-section 3 of Section 39 of NFSA on 22 nd  December, 2022. The PMMVY Rules were also laid on the Table of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on 3 rd  February, 2023 and 8 th  February, 2023 respectively.

Under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), maternal benefit of ₹5,000/is  provided  to  eligible  Pregnant  Women  &  lactating  Mothers  (PW&LM)  during  the period of pregnancy and lactation. 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 ₹6,000/-.

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 safe delivery and immunization of her first child. Under Mission Shakti, w.e.f. 01.04.2022, to promote positive behavioural change towards girl child, the maternity benefits of ₹6000 is also provided to beneficiaries for second child subject to condition that the second child is a girl.

No  proposal  to  extend  benefits  under  PMMVY  to  all  pregnant  women  is  under consideration of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

(d)       Every pregnant women & lactating mother are entitled to meal, free of charge, during pregnancy and six months after child birth through the Anganwadi, so as to meet the nutritional standards specified in schedule of NFSA Act. These foodgrains are being allocated to the states through the Wheat Based Nutritional Programme (WBNP) wherein foodgrains are (Wheat/Rice/Coarse grains (Millets)) are allocated to the  States/UTs  through  the  Department  of  Food  &  Public  Distribution  for  use as Supplementary  Nutrition  at  NFSA  rates.  The  State/UT-wise,  including  Kerala, details of the funds released and utilisation reported in the country during the financial years 2016-17 to 2023-24 are Annexed .

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Statement referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1894 for answer on 06.12.2024 raised by Shri K Sudhakaran, Adv Dean Kuriakose and Shri Sasikanth Senthil regarding 'Food Security to Pregnant Women'

State/UT-wise and Year-wise details of Central share of funds released and utilization reported under Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) during the financial years 2016-17 to 202324

(Rupees in Crores)

| Sl.   | State/UTs                 | 2016-17   | 2016-17   | 2017-18   | 2017-18   |
|-------|---------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| No.   |                           | Released  | Utilized  | Released  | Utilized  |
| 1     | ANDHRA PRADESH            | 3.15      | 310.90    | 315.97    | 294.20    |
| 2     | BIHAR                     | 5.25      | 518.39    | 537.42    | 599.80    |
| 3     | CHHATTISGARH              | 224.62    | 254.87    | 257.25    | 229.05    |
| 4     | GOA                       | 5.91      | 8.85      | 10.11     | 10.07     |
| 5     | GUJARAT                   | 361.63    | 464.24    | 384.97    | 380.13    |
| 6     | HARYANA                   | 71.31     | 55.39     | 39.46     | 36.05     |
| 7     | JHARKHAND                 | 287.23    | 287.23    | 253.47    | 253.47    |
| 8     | KARNATAKA                 | 339.15    | 447.02    | 560.09    | 500.09    |
| 9     | KERALA                    | 83.06     | 109.87    | 109.77    | 109.77    |
| 10    | MADHYA PRADESH            | 557.79    | 668.31    | 667.76    | 676.23    |
| 11    | MAHARASHTRA               | 320.53    | -47.12    | 414.46    | 587.19    |
| 12    | ODISHA                    | 255.20    | 342.81    | 473.16    | 443.59    |
| 13    | PUNJAB                    | 31.25     | 22.62     | 52.82     | 8.09      |
| 14    | RAJASTHAN                 | 330.46    | 390.38    | 349.32    | 366.61    |
| 15    | TAMIL NADU                | 260.18    | 282.61    | 331.87    | 332.11    |
| 16    | TELANGANA                 | 174.19    | 174.73    | 181.31    | 190.06    |
| 17    | UTTAR PRADESH             | 1607.84   | 1662.04   | 1293.54   | 777.77    |
| 18    | WEST BENGAL               | 304.62    | 540.66    | 676.98    | 813.25    |
| 19    | DELHI                     | 75.51     | 41.63     | 40.51     | 7.64      |
| 20    | PUDUCHERRY                | 17.02     | 17.02     | 8.51      | 8.51      |
| 21    | HIMACHAL PRADESH          | 46.62     | 46.62     | 57.96     | 57.96     |
| 22    | JAMMU & KASHMIR           | 40.35     | -8.79     | 40.35     | -31.95    |
| 23    | UTTARAKHAND               | 46.49     | 84.69     | 152.12    | 167.34    |
| 24    | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS | 2.63      | 2.63      | 2.85      | 2.85      |
| 25    | CHANDIGARH                | 1.90      | 1.90      | 5.92      | 5.92      |
| 26    | DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI      | 2.04      | 2.04      | 1.30      | 1.30      |
| 27    | DAMAN & DIU               | 1.74      | 1.74      | 1.31      | 1.31      |
| 28    | LAKSHADWEEP               | 0.68      | 0.68      | 0.85      | 0.85      |
| 29    | ARUNACHAL PRADESH         | 40.53     | 35.67     | 40.35     | 34.36     |
| 30    | ASSAM                     | 179.21    | 136.00    | 315.55    | 171.14    |
| 31    | MANIPUR                   | 5.00      | -5.09     | 52.44     | 33.23     |
| 32    | MEGHALAYA                 | 111.85    | 124.28    | 122.39    | 123.07    |
| 33    | MIZORAM                   | 21.57     | 16.96     | 15.39     | 11.40     |
| 34    | NAGALAND                  | 106.11    | 107.09    | 70.00     | 64.23     |
| 35    | SIKKIM                    | 6.44      | 4.71      | 4.81      | 1.81      |
| 36    | TRIPURA                   | 40.11     | 38.17     | 64.57     | 67.50     |
| TOTAL | TOTAL                     | 6800.65   | 7141.77   | 7906.90   | 7335.97   |

Rupees in Crores)

| Sl. No.   | State/UTs                 | 2018-19   | 2018-19   | 2019-20   | 2019-20   |
|-----------|---------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Sl. No.   | State/UTs                 | Released  | Utilized  | Released  | Utilized  |
| 1         | ANDHRA PRADESH            | 373.54    | 364.12    | 327.26    | 355.07    |
| 2         | BIHAR                     | 769.88    | 743.01    | 761.01    | 771.38    |
| 3         | CHHATTISGARH              | 242.80    | 202.53    | 209.31    | 297.03    |
| 4         | GOA                       | 8.60      | 8.45      | 8.26      | 8.32      |
| 5         | GUJARAT                   | 320.52    | 233.92    | 336.72    | 405.42    |
| 6         | HARYANA                   | 73.05     | 41.95     | 42.05     | 42.95     |
| 7         | JHARKHAND                 | 290.83    | 273.73    | 229.59    | 218.07    |
| 8         | KARNATAKA                 | 435.89    | 387.60    | 426.58    | 517.28    |
| 9         | KERALA                    | 107.85    | 130.07    | 140.85    | 138.36    |
| 10        | MADHYA PRADESH            | 640.89    | 652.10    | 715.35    | 696.50    |
| 11        | MAHARASHTRA               | 1065.35   | 765.57    | 789.49    | 798.87    |
| 12        | ODISHA                    | 434.51    | 448.26    | 494.67    | 500.69    |
| 13        | PUNJAB                    | 37.44     | 53.27     | 53.47     | 35.17     |
| 14        | RAJASTHAN                 | 349.51    | 296.00    | 299.14    | 282.32    |
| 15        | TAMIL NADU                | 372.71    | 368.39    | 373.42    | 369.19    |
| 16        | TELANGANA                 | 220.46    | 213.99    | 225.20    | 213.26    |
| 17        | UTTAR PRADESH             | 1045.79   | 1502.32   | 1486.86   | 1530.36   |
| 18        | WEST BENGAL               | 680.47    | 678.72    | 598.62    | 777.38    |
| 19        | DELHI                     | 34.75     | 56.09     | 44.26     | 63.27     |
| 20        | PUDUCHERRY                | 0.00      | 0.00      | 0.00      | 0.00      |
| 21        | HIMACHAL PRADESH          | 69.76     | 69.58     | 76.56     | 61.52     |
| 22        | JAMMU & KASHMIR           | 21.29     | 73.30     | 23.41     | 43.17     |
| 23        | UTTARAKHAND               | 136.13    | 154.24    | 133.08    | 154.85    |
| 24        | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS | 3.70      | 2.98      | 3.27      | 3.27      |
| 25        | CHANDIGARH                | 7.70      | 7.70      | 7.06      | 7.06      |
| 26        | DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI      | 1.69      | 1.69      | 1.86      | 1.86      |
| 27        | DAMAN & DIU               | 1.70      | 1.70      | 1.40      | 1.40      |
| 28        | LAKSHADWEEP               | 1.00      | 1.00      | 0.55      | 0.55      |
| 29        | ARUNACHAL PRADESH         | 44.11     | 44.71     | 23.33     | 40.06     |
| 30        | ASSAM                     | 305.97    | 340.51    | 495.42    | 627.08    |
| 31        | MANIPUR                   | 71.34     | 44.65     | 49.80     | 43.65     |
| 32        | MEGHALAYA                 | 123.64    | 123.64    | 115.83    | 114.57    |
| 33        | MIZORAM                   | 18.43     | 18.17     | 20.41     | 20.41     |
| 34        | NAGALAND                  | 82.31     | 69.07     | 73.90     | 79.68     |
| 35        | SIKKIM                    | 4.51      | 4.84      | 2.91      | 4.88      |
| 36        | TRIPURA                   | 77.82     | 77.82     | 70.28     | 69.62     |
| TOTAL     | TOTAL                     | 8475.92   | 8455.69   | 8661.18   | 9294.52   |

(Rupees in Crores)

| Sl. No.   | State/UTs                           | 2020-21   | 2020-21   | 2021-22   | 2021-22   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Sl. No.   | State/UTs                           | Released  | Utilized  | Released  | Utilized  |
| 1         | ANDHRA PRADESH                      | 371.36    | 396.21    | 382.68    | 397.43    |
| 2         | BIHAR                               | 856.08    | 922.49    | 883.69    | 924.32    |
| 3         | CHHATTISGARH                        | 245.93    | 262.23    | 267.72    | 242.53    |
| 4         | GOA                                 | 8.59      | 8.23      | 4.41      | 4.79      |
| 5         | GUJARAT                             | 336.72    | 505.26    | 505.26    | 447.68    |
| 6         | HARYANA                             | 59.19     | 96.31     | 59.19     | 46.02     |
| 7         | JHARKHAND                           | 260.34    | 136.10    | 175.95    | 57.88     |
| 8         | KARNATAKA                           | 410.00    | 584.45    | 581.02    | 612.34    |
| 9         | KERALA                              | 130.50    | 171.11    | 190.83    | 189.05    |
| 10        | MADHYA PRADESH                      | 744.06    | 553.39    | 553.39    | 554.13    |
| 11        | MAHARASHTRA                         | 663.31    | 861.47    | 1052.39   | 989.46    |
| 12        | ODISHA                              | 502.99    | 504.34    | 494.54    | 455.01    |
| 13        | PUNJAB                              | 43.41     | 56.40     | 45.30     | 44.28     |
| 14        | RAJASTHAN                           | 348.94    | 367.03    | 313.99    | 434.25    |
| 15        | TAMIL NADU                          | 390.22    | 371.67    | 363.37    | 398.14    |
| 16        | TELANGANA                           | 215.22    | 251.39    | 246.81    | 257.78    |
| 17        | UTTAR PRADESH                       | 1390.64   | 888.00    | 1390.64   | 1531.97   |
| 18        | WEST BENGAL                         | 658.48    | 316.60    | 329.24    | 796.47    |
| 19        | DELHI                               | 65.40     | 71.79     | 78.25     | 70.56     |
| 20        | PUDUCHERRY                          | 0.00      | 0.85      | 0.00      | 5.21      |
| 21        | HIMACHAL PRADESH                    | 69.20     | 70.24     | 57.66     | 55.74     |
| 22        | JAMMU & KASHMIR                     | 46.30     | 35.12     | 34.59     | 45.76     |
| 23        | UTTARAKHAND                         | 146.29    | 152.76    | 152.76    | 157.35    |
| 24        | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS           | 4.06      | 4.06      | 2.03      | 2.33      |
| 25        | CHANDIGARH                          | 6.33      | 6.33      | 7.03      | 14.81     |
| 26        | DADRA. & NAGAR HAVELI & DAMAN & DIU | 4.10      | 4.10      | 4.10      | 4.06      |
| 27        | LADAKH                              | 5.54      | 5.54      | 2.77      | 2.77      |
| 28        | LAKSHADWEEP                         | 0.91      | 0.91      | 1.46      | 1.71      |
| 29        | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                   | 37.08     | 37.68     | 47.26     | 38.45     |
| 30        | ASSAM                               | 544.96    | 697.60    | 697.60    | 733.79    |
| 31        | MANIPUR                             | 106.97    | 66.68     | 85.89     | 78.17     |
| 32        | MEGHALAYA                           | 116.49    | 112.25    | 110.51    | 113.50    |
| 33        | MIZORAM                             | 22.88     | 22.88     | 18.63     | 18.37     |
| 34        | NAGALAND                            | 82.33     | 82.33     | 82.33     | 82.33     |
| 35        | SIKKIM                              | 3.36      | 5.18      | 3.03      | 4.92      |
| 36        | TRIPURA                             | 65.03     | 72.62     | 68.83     | 58.78     |
| TOTAL     | TOTAL                               | 8963.22   | 8701.60   | 9295.17   | 9872.16   |

(Rupees in Crores)

| Sl. No.   | State/UTs                          | 2022-23   | 2022-23   | 2023-24   | 2023-24             |
|-----------|------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------------------|
| Sl. No.   | State/UTs                          | Released  | Utilized  | Released  | Utilized            |
| 1         | ANDHRA PRADESH                     | 406.38    | 314.59    | 327.40    |                     |
| 2         | BIHAR                              | 951.94    | 883.68    | 897.23    |                     |
| 3         | CHHATTISGARH                       | 264.50    | 273.18    | 285.43    |                     |
| 4         | GOA                                | 6.88      | 8.25      | 5.66      |                     |
| 5         | GUJARAT                            | 616.22    | 264.79    | 767.26    |                     |
| 6         | HARYANA                            | 49.53     | 52.68     | 49.47     |                     |
| 7         | JHARKHAND                          | 166.47    | 385.24    | 356.22    | Utilization         |
| 8         | KARNATAKA                          | 581.02    | 491.94    | 434.93    | Certificate Not Due |
| 9         | KERALA                             | 208.30    | 152.57    | 161.95    |                     |
| 10        | MADHYA PRADESH                     | 521.48    | 525.90    | 454.73    |                     |
| 11        | MAHARASHTRA                        | 1021.76   | 984.05    | 909.42    |                     |
| 12        | ODISHA                             | 449.42    | 474.13    | 452.30    |                     |
| 13        | PUNJAB                             | 65.68     | 86.68     | 140.47    |                     |
| 14        | RAJASTHAN                          | 627.96    | 487.60    | 614.61    |                     |
| 15        | TAMIL NADU                         | 383.59    | 406.60    | 489.78    |                     |
| 16        | TELANGANA                          | 284.29    | 238.61    | 237.73    |                     |
| 17        | UTTAR PRADESH                      | 1889.49   | 1744.26   | 1488.07   |                     |
| 18        | WEST BENGAL                        | 654.12    | 927.69    | 714.18    |                     |
| 19        | DELHI                              | 83.41     | 87.73     | 87.33     |                     |
| 20        | PUDUCHERRY                         | 0.00      | 4.64      | 2.62      |                     |
| 21        | HIMACHAL PRADESH                   | 51.70     | 70.97     | 62.69     |                     |
| 22        | JAMMU & KASHMIR                    | 69.47     | 40.62     | 67.50     |                     |
| 23        | UTTARAKHAND                        | 163.82    | 157.35    | 38.19     |                     |
| 24        | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS          | 0.00      | 0.00      | 2.68      |                     |
| 25        | CHANDIGARH                         | 23.28     | 23.28     | 10.48     |                     |
| 26        | DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI & DAMAN & DIU | 4.45      | 4.45      | 7.74      |                     |
| 27        | LADAKH                             | 6.23      | 6.23      | 4.26      |                     |
| 28        | LAKSHADWEEP                        | 0.43      | 0.43      | 1.79      |                     |
| 29        | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                  | 37.82     | 36.40     | 32.88     |                     |
| 30        | ASSAM                              | 887.47    | 682.62    | 674.70    |                     |
| 31        | MANIPUR                            | 10.70     | 62.98     | 86.93     |                     |
| 32        | MEGHALAYA                          | 115.37    | 118.86    | 123.56    |                     |
| 33        | MIZORAM                            | 11.44     | 11.44     | 24.84     |                     |
| 34        | NAGALAND                           | 89.18     | 89.18     | 97.33     |                     |
| 35        | SIKKIM                             | 2.33      | 2.59      | 0.00      |                     |
| 36        | TRIPURA                            | 56.21     | 78.85     | 101.09    |                     |
| TOTAL     | TOTAL                              | 10762.35  | 10181.08  | 10213.44  |                     |

*****