The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) ensures financial and nutritional support to Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM) in India. The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), notified under NFSA, provides crucial maternity benefits to eligible women.
Key Features of PMMVY 2024
✅ Financial Assistance – Eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers receive ₹5,000 during pregnancy and lactation. The remaining amount is provided under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery, ensuring a total maternity benefit of ₹6,000.
✅ Eligibility Criteria –
- First-time mothers receive direct financial aid under PMMVY.
- Under Mission Shakti, an additional ₹6,000 is granted for the second child if it is a girl, promoting a positive behavioral shift toward daughters.
- Women in regular government jobs or those receiving similar benefits under other laws are not eligible.
✅ Nutritional Support –
- Expecting and lactating mothers are entitled to free meals during pregnancy and six months post-delivery at Anganwadi centers.
- Nutritional food grains are provided under the Wheat Based Nutritional Programme (WBNP) at subsidized NFSA rates.
PMMVY Beneficiaries & Impact
- In the financial year 2023-24, a total of 53,76,728 beneficiaries availed maternity benefits under PMMVY.
- The scheme is a vital step towards reducing maternal mortality and ensuring proper nutrition for mother and child.
Government’s Commitment to Maternal Health
Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, highlighted these updates in the Rajya Sabha while addressing the impact of PMMVY in India. The Government continues to strengthen maternal healthcare policies to promote safe pregnancies, institutional deliveries, and child immunization.
For more details, visit the official PMMVY Portal or contact the nearest Anganwadi center for registration.
