Maternity Benefits Under NFSA
Pregnant women in India are entitled to ₹6,000 maternity benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, which is now worth about ₹12,000 with inflation.
These benefits are crucial for supporting the health of pregnant women and their newborns, especially in vulnerable households.
However, despite the legal entitlement, many women still do not receive these benefits.
Issues with the PMMVY
The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) provides limited benefits, covering only one child per family (now extended to a second child if it's a girl).
Benefits have been reduced to ₹5,000 for the first child, which is far below the legal entitlement.
The program's coverage is poor, with only 9% of pregnant women receiving any benefit in 2023-24, down from 36% in 2019-20.
Implementation Failures and Delays
The PMMVY has faced persistent issues, including software problems and complications with Aadhaar-based payments, leading to delays and exclusion.
The central government has reduced funding for the PMMVY, making it more difficult to reach the majority of pregnant women.
These issues have been compounded by poor transparency, with minimal information being shared by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
State-Level Success Stories
States like Tamil Nadu and Odisha have more successful maternity schemes, offering higher benefits (₹10,000 in Odisha, ₹18,000 in Tamil Nadu) and better implementation.
These states cover a larger percentage of births (64% in Odisha, 84% in Tamil Nadu) compared to the PMMVY, which covers less than 10% nationwide.
The contrast highlights the inefficiency of the PMMVY and the potential for more effective local programs.
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