The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) provides that subject to such schemes as may be framed by the Central Government, every Pregnant Woman and Lactating Mother, except those who are in regular employment with the Central Government or State Government or Public Sector Undertaking or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force, shall be entitled to maternity benefit of not less than rupees six thousand, in such instalments as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
The Government of India has approved Pan-India implementation of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) to cover all the districts of the country with effect from 01.01.2017. PMMVY envisages payment of maternity benefits of Rs. 5,000/- in beneficiary’s bank/post office account in three instalments at the stage of early registration of pregnancy, after six months of pregnancy with at least one antenatal check-up and registration of child birth & first cycle of immunisation of the child. The eligible beneficiary is to receive the remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards Maternity Benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman gets ₹ 6000/-. The maternity benefits under PMMVY are available to the eligible beneficiaries for first living child of family.
The Government of India has made adequate budgetary provision of Rs. 2,700 crore for implementation of PMMVY during the financial year of 2017-18. This information was given by Minister for State for Women and Child Development, Smt Krishna Raj in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
