Lok Sabha Question No. 3852 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-11
Subject: Delays in Disbursement of Cash Benefits under PMMVY
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kamlesh  Paswan, Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3852

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2023

## DELAYS IN DISBURSEMENT OF CASH BENEFITS UNDER PMMVY

3852.   SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN: SHRI B.B. PATIL

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  delay  in  disbursement  of  cash benefits  under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), if so the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has data about the number of beneficiaries whose instalments have been delayed;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State and district-wise for the FY 2022-23;
- (d) the steps taken to improve coordination and communication between different stakeholders involved in the disbursement process to ensure timely delivery of cash benefits thereunder;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  explored  the  possibility  of  leveraging  digital payment  platforms  or  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  system,  to  streamline  and expedite the disbursement to beneficiaries, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  any  mechanism  in  place  for  beneficiaries  to register their complaints in case of delays, if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (c) The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  implements  'Mission Shakti', an Integrated Women Empowerment Programme, as Umbrella Scheme for the Safety, Security and Empowerment of Women. The 'Mission Shakti' has two subschemes namely "Sambal" for  safety  and  security  of  women  and  "Samarthya"  for empowerment  of  women.  Pradhan  Mantri  Matru  Vandana  Yojana  (PMMVY)  is  a component of sub-scheme 'Samarthya' under Mission Shakti.

The Mission Shakti Guidelines stipulates that payment of maternity benefits may be made in the account  of  eligible  beneficiaries  preferably  within  30  days  of registration and submission of claim along with complete details of fulfilment of the conditionalities  under  the  scheme.  PMMVY  is  being  implemented  through  State

Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations.  The  identification,  registration  and disbursement of maternity benefits to eligible beneficiaries under PMMVY are carried out by concerned States/UTs.  In order to ensure timely disbursement of maternity benefits by States/UTs, the Ministry of Women and Child Development periodically reviews and monitor implementation of PMMVY and urges all States/UTs for timely disbursement of maternity benefits. Under PMMVY, maternity benefits of more than Rs. 13,788 crore (includes Central and State share) have been disbursed to more than 3.06 crore beneficiaries since inception of the scheme and till 24.07.2023.

(d) & (e)         The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a Centrally Sponsored Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) compliant scheme. The maternity benefits under  the  scheme  are  directly  transferred  to  the  bank/post  office  account  of  the beneficiaries from the Escrow bank account maintained at State/Union Territory level in  a  transparent  manner.  The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has developed a new portal for registration of beneficiaries under PMMVY in accordance with Mission Shakti guidelines. The process of registration of beneficiaries by filling physical forms has been dispensed off. The Anganwadi Worker or Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) now fills forms on behalf of the beneficiary on new PMMVY portal. Provision of self registration of beneficiary has also been made on new PMMVY portal so that a beneficiary or an individual on behalf of the beneficiary can register an eligible beneficiary on new PMMVY portal.

(f) The PMMVY is being implemented through State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. A beneficiary can approach nearest Anganwadi Worker/Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) at village level or Child Development Project Officer (CDPO)/Medical Officer (MO) at Block level for registering her complaints. Further, beneficiaries  can  also  register  their  grievances  through  Central  Public  Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), an online platform (https://pgportal.gov.in)  available  to  the  citizens  on  any  subject  related  to  service delivery.

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