Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a government scheme launched in 2017 to provide financial assistance for the first live birth of a girl child to help with her health and nutrition. The scheme is intended to improve the health and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women and to promote gender equality.
The main features of the scheme include:
- Eligibility: The scheme is open to pregnant and lactating women who have had their first live birth.
- Financial Assistance: The scheme provides financial assistance of Rs. 5000 to the pregnant and lactating women in three instalments.
- Use of Funds: The funds can be used for the pregnant and lactating women's health and nutrition needs, and for the child's health and nutrition needs.
- Beneficiary Identification: Beneficiaries are identified through a process of community mobilization and survey by Anganwadi workers and the ICDS scheme.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: The scheme is monitored and evaluated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the state governments.
PMMVY is implemented in all districts of the country and has been designed to support pregnant and lactating women for receiving enhanced services, by providing cash incentives to the beneficiaries. The scheme is targeted to reach the most vulnerable and marginalized pregnant women, who may have limited access to institutional services, and aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes, by reducing maternal and infant mortality.
