Recently the government has clarified that in order to facilitate and include single mothers and abandoned mothers under “Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana”, it is not mandatory to ask for Aadhar card of husbands.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a maternity benefit scheme of the central government. This scheme has been implemented in all the districts of the country as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Under the scheme, direct benefit cash transfers are intended to help meet increased nutritional needs for expectant mothers, as well as partially offset wage loss during pregnancy and postpartum for working women.
The scheme was announced on December 31, 2016.
Beneficiary:
- All pregnant women and lactating mothers (PW&LM), except those engaged in regular employment in the Central Government or State Governments or Public Sector Undertakings and receiving equal benefits under any law, will get benefits under this scheme.
- All eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers who have conceived on or after January 1, 2017 for the first child in the family.
Benefits provided under the scheme:
A cash benefit of Rs.5, 000 is provided to the beneficiary in three installments, subject to fulfillment of the following conditions –
- Early registration of pregnancies.
- Prenatal checkup
- Registration of the birth of the child, and completion of the first round of vaccination of the first surviving child in the family.
In addition, cash incentives are also given to eligible beneficiaries under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY). Thus an average amount of Rs.6, 000 is provided to a woman.
Improvements proposed in the scheme:
- The Central Government is likely to expand the benefits under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana’ (PMMVY) soon.
- At present, beneficiaries under the scheme include pregnant women and lactating mothers for the first child in the family. This provision will be extended to women giving birth to another child, provided the child born is a girl child.
- The move is aimed at discouraging prenatal sex selection.
Source – The Hindu
