Press Information Bureau

 Introduction

Under-nutrition remains a pervasive issue for many women in India, with every third woman being undernourished and every second woman suffering from anaemia. This nutritional deficit often leads to an undernourished mother giving birth to a low birth weight baby, a condition that begins in-utero and whose largely irreversible effects can extend throughout the life cycle. Exacerbating these health challenges, economic and social distress compels many women to continue working right up to the advanced stages of pregnancy and to prematurely resume work after childbirth. This sustained labour prevents their bodies from fully recovering and impedes their ability to exclusively breastfeed their infants during the crucial first six months.

In response to these critical challenges, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a maternity benefit programme, was launched on the 1st January 2017. The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and forms a key component of the Government of India's 'Mission Shakti' for women's empowerment.

Source: Viksit Bharat Ka Amrit Kaal Seva, Sushasan, Garib Kalyan Ke 11 Saal

 

Under the 'Samarthya' sub-scheme, PMMVY focuses on economic empowerment and holistic development of women. It provides financial support to pregnant and lactating mothers under the National Food Security Act, 2013, to improve their health and nutrition and compensate for wage loss. In April 2022, PMMVY 2.0 extended maternity benefits for the second living child, if a girl, and to promote positive attitudes towards girls and improve the Sex Ratio at Birth. Mission Shakti guidelines support PMMVY 2.0 implementation across national, state, and district levels.[1]

Objectives

• To provide cash incentive for partial compensation for the wage loss so that the woman can take adequate rest before and after delivery of the first child;
• To improve health seeking behavioural amongst the Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM).
• To promote positive behavioural change towards girl child by providing additional cash incentive for the second child, if it is a girl child.

For enrollment, the link to the official website for the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) portal is https://pmmvy.wcd.gov.in/.

For downloading the PMMVY mobile app for field functionaries (such as Anganwadi Workers or ASHA workers), the beneficiary can visit the same portal and look for the "Download PMMVY App" section. The app is primarily for field functionaries to facilitate beneficiary enrolment and is available through the official portal.

Alternatively, eligible women can also enroll directly through the UMANG platform (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) at https://web.umang.gov.in/, which provides access to PMMVY services among other government schemes.

Documents required for applying: Mother and Child Protection (MCP) Card and eligibility proof (e.g., BPL card).

Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation

The implementation of the PMMVY is actively monitored and supervised at multiple levels of administration: national, state, district, block/project, and village using the newly developed PMMVY Software (PMMVYSoft), launched in March 2023. This digital platform enables seamless tracking and evaluation of scheme delivery through multiple reforms designed to enhance transparency, efficiency, and beneficiary coverage.

1. Real-Time Authentication and Verification:

• The system incorporates Aadhaar-based authentication via UIDAI and verification by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) to ensure direct benefit transfers (DBT) into Aadhaar-seeded bank or post office accounts, enabling real-time tracking of fund disbursement.
• Biometric verification using facial recognition on the PMMVY portal ensures accurate identity confirmation at registration, preventing duplication and fraud.
• The portal mandates verification of key criteria such as Aadhaar authentication and DBT-enabled accounts upfront, accelerating processing times and minimizing delays.

2. Digital Reporting and Field-Level Access:

• The fully paperless PMMVY portal and mobile app allow field workers, starting from the Anganwadi level, to report beneficiary data and service delivery status promptly and accurately from the beneficiaries’ doorstep.
• Beneficiaries and officials can search and track application approval and payment status in real time, promoting transparency and accountability.

3. Transparency:

• A toll-free, multilingual helpline (14408) supports ongoing queries and complaints, contributing to continuous feedback and program evaluation.
• Applicants and beneficiaries receive automated SMS updates at critical stages of the process (registration, rejection, payment) in 12 different languages, ensuring transparent communication and enhancing user engagement.
• An integrated grievance lodging and status module enables stakeholders to report and monitor grievances effectively, with direct routing to implementing authorities for quicker resolution.

4. Training and Awareness:

• To ensure smooth implementation, state-level training programs have been conducted for officials and field functionaries.
• YouTube video tutorials have been developed and disseminated to provide step-by-step guidance on PMMVY portal usage.
• Comprehensive IEC materials have been created and distributed to raise awareness about the scheme, system functionalities etc.

Conclusion

The PMMVY uses a well-structured system with multiple levels of governance, digital tracking, direct money transfers, and community reviews to ensure transparency and effective delivery. By promoting health check-ups, good nutrition, and financial awareness, the scheme helps women take control of their lives and supports the goal of women-led development.

References

PIB Sources

1. pib.gov.in – PMMVY Guidelines
2. pib.gov.in – PMMVY 2.0 Notification
3. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1841498

Ministry of Women and Child Development

1.     pmmvy.wcd.gov.in – PMMVY Portal

Click here to see pdf

****

SK/RK

(Backgrounder ID: 155085) Visitor Counter : 22