PMMVY Implementation Concerns

PMMVY Implementation Concerns

For Prelims: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, International Labour Organization, Janani Suraksha Yojana, POSHAN Abhiyaan
For Mains: National Food Security Act, 2013, Social Security for Women and Maternal Health in India

Why in News?

Despite maternity benefits being a legal entitlement under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) faces significant challenges, leaving millions of pregnant women without crucial support.

What is PMMVY and its Concerns?
PMMVY: Launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, PMMVY is a Centrally Sponsored scheme offering maternity benefits to eligible pregnant and lactating women. However, government employees and those receiving similar benefits are excluded from the scheme.
Objectives: PMMVY aims to ensure maternal nutrition, promote institutional deliveries, enhance financial stability, and encourage the birth of girl children.
Key Features:

• First Child: Rs 5,000 provided, with additional benefits under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) bringing the total to around Rs 6,000.
• Second Child (if a girl): Rs 6,000 to promote gender equality and prevent female feticide.

Concerns:

• Restricted Coverage: The scheme restricts benefits to only the first two children, with the second child eligible only if it is a girl, which contradicts the NFSA, 2013, which mandates universal maternity benefits.
• Budget Cuts: In 2023-24, the central government allocated only Rs 870 crore to the scheme, a third of the amount allocated in 2019-20. Meeting the needs of 90% of births at Rs 6,000 each would require at least Rs 12,000 crore.
• Poor Implementation: The effective coverage of the scheme has fallen from 36% in 2019-20 to just 9% in 2023-24.
• Bureaucratic and Digital Barriers: Issues such as Aadhaar-based verification problems, complex application processes, and frequent software failures make it challenging for digitally illiterate and economically disadvantaged women to access benefits.
• State-Specific Schemes: State-specific schemes, such as those in Tamil Nadu (84%) and Odisha (64%), outperform PMMVY, offering higher benefits like Rs 18,000 (Tamil Nadu) and Rs 10,000 (Odisha) per child.

What are the Provisions for Maternity Benefits Under NFSA?
NFSA 2013: This Act ensures food and nutritional security for India’s population by providing affordable food grains through the Public Distribution System (PDS), marking a shift from welfare-based to rights-based food security.
Maternity Benefits under NFSA, 2013: All pregnant women (except those in the formal sector) are entitled to Rs 6,000 per child as maternity benefits to ensure proper nutrition, healthcare, and rest.
Note: Women in the formal sector receive 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, as per the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.
Global Context: 51% of countries offer maternity leave for at least 14 weeks, in line with the International Labour Organization’s Maternity Protection Convention, 2000.

Way Forward:

• Grassroots Implementation: Engage Accredited Social Health Activists, Anganwadi workers, and Panchayati Raj institutions to help identify and assist eligible beneficiaries.
• Extend Benefits to Low-Income Workers: Provide benefits to low-income informal sector workers who often miss out on paid maternity leave.
• Universal Coverage: Align PMMVY with the NFSA by providing benefits to all pregnant women, rather than limiting it to the first two children.
• Holistic Approach: Integrate PMMVY with schemes like JSY, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and state-specific models (e.g., Tamil Nadu, Odisha) for comprehensive maternal care.
• Monitoring and Transparency: Conduct regular independent audits to assess fund utilization and beneficiary reach.
• Remove Digital Barriers: Introduce alternative identity verification to overcome Aadhaar-related issues and streamline payments through Jan Dhan accounts, avoiding bureaucratic delays.

Drishti Mains Question:
How does the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana contradict the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013? Suggest measures to align the scheme with NFSA.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ):
Q. In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate healthcare policies are needed, particularly in the fields of geriatric and maternal healthcare. Discuss. (2020)

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