PMMVY : The financial strain of pregnancy makes it difficult for pregnant Indian women from financially weaker sections to enjoy what should be a happy time.
The PMMVY, the key programa in maternity benefit space, is attempting to bridge this gap by paying Rs. 11,000 after delivery the woman. Despite the significance and widespread use of this scheme many potential recipients are unaware whether they are eligible or have difficulty with the application process.
This detailed guide will cover PMMVY eligibility, application process and benefit structure that would play key role in enabling all the India women to avail the benefit of crucial government support.
But with the cost of health care associated with childbirth mounting, and the importance of adequate maternal nutrition becoming greater, learning to work the program has never been more crucial for parents-to-be.
Table of Contents
Analysing the PMMVY Scheme
The PMMVY, which was introduced as a centrally sponsored scheme by the ministry of Women and Child Development, is designed to compensate women for wage-loss during childbirth, and to provide a financial incentive for use of health services.
Through the scheme, Rs. 11,000 is transferred directly to the bank accounts of pregnant women and lactating mothers when she gives birth to her first living child.
It is transferred in three tranches and conditional on various maternal and child health outcomes, such that the transfer incentivizes appropriate ANC care and immunization.
This method tackles two critical problems at once: providing assistance at a time when household income might be reduced as a result of pregnancy, and incentivizing actions that enhance health for both the mother and the child.
A Social Service comment| Share this: | By Anumeha Yadav Sunita Devi, an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker in Bihar who assists women applying for the scheme, describes how it works in practice:Sunita Devi, an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker from Bihar who helps women apply for the scheme, describes its practical impact:“Many women in my village work as daily wage laborers or in agriculture.
After they get pregnant, many keep working up until the end because they can’t afford to forgo income. This money enables them to relax during a critical final few months and to purchase nutritious food that many could not otherwise afford.“
PMMVY Detailed Eligibility Criteria
In order to qualify for PMMVY benefit, applicants will have to fulfill certain eligibility conditions:
Basic Eligibility:
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Pregnant with living first child or gave birth to first living child, not more than a few years earlier
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Pregnancy registration at Anganwadi Centre (AWC) or facility.
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Age should be 19 and above (to reduce childhood marriage)
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Government ID: Should have a government ID, preferably Aadhaar
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Bank/post office account in her own name is required.
Important Exclusions:
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The government (central and state) are exempt as the employees under the government sections have separate laws for maternity benefits.
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Not currently eligible for repeated pregnancy if current living children are women.
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If the previous pregnancy ended in stillbirth or miscarriage, the woman qualifies for benefits in the subsequent pregnancy
Meena Kumari, a recipient from Rajasthan who got the benefit last year: “I had assumed that I wouldn’t be eligible because I had lost the first pregnancy due to miscarriage two years ago. Then the Anganwadi Worker told me “No, you are still in”. If she hadn’t guided me, I never would have applied.”
PMMVY Structure of Interest and Terms of Payment
The total amount of Rs. 11,000 is transferred in three installments, with linked conditions to enhance maternal and child health outcomes namely:
First Installment: Rs. 3,000
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To be paid at registration of pregnancy
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Documents needed: Application form (filled), Identity proof, Standard pregnancy reg certificate
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Claimable post at 1 antenatal visit
Second Installment: Rs. 3,000
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At six months of pregnancy.
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Documents needed: Antenatal check-up card with one check-up in 2nd trimester.
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Evidence the woman has taken iron-Folic Acid and received TT1 vaccine
Third Installment: Rs. 5,000
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After the registration of birth and first cycle of vaccination had been completed and recorded
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Document: Child birth registration certificate, proof that the infant has received BCG, OPV, DPT and Hepatitis-B vaccines or its alternate vaccines.
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Redeem within 6 months of delivery
There is an important reason for having the staggered system of payments other than just disbursing the financial aid. By attaching payments to the achievement of certain health markers, the program incentivizes pregnant woman to seek regular medical care while carrying their baby, and do the same for their newborn by getting them vaccinated.
Lakshmi Narayan, a primary health centre doctor based in rural Tamil Nadu, says: “Prior to this intervention, several women would turn up for delivery without having received adequate antenatal care. Now we see them a lot along pregnancy, as every consultation is linked to a fee. This has drastically mitigated maternal paupers in our vicinity.”
PMMVY Applying: How To Do It A Step By Step Guide
The process for applying issues for PMMVY has been simplified and reduced over the years, but it is still important to keep the following points in mind:
Step 1: Acquire the Application Form You can get the application form (Form 1-A) from the nearest anganwadi center, Primary Health Center, or can download it from the website of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Some states accept online applications via their own state portals, too.
Step 2: Collect necessary documents Prepare the following documents:
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Proof of identity preferably Aadhaar card
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Proof of address proof (if not same as ID)
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Bank/ Post office account number with IFSC code
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Mother and Child Health (MCH) card
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Photo Id proof of Husband (preferable Aadhaar)
For 2nd or 3rd Installment: evidence for the fulfillment of above conditions.
Step 3: Fill and Submit the Application Fill up the application form neatly, enclose the documents and submit it to the Anganwadi Worker / ASHA worker / designated PMMVY Officer. In cities, applications can be filed at municipal health clinics.
Step 4: Get Acknowledgment Receipt You should get an acknowledgment receipt with a registration number. This is important when you try to see police application status.
Step 5: Check Back if Necessary Most applications are processed within 30-45 days. If the payment is not made within this deadline, applicants should contact the Anganwadi Worker or PMMVY Nodal Officer.
As PMMVY Nodal Officer for Uttar Pradesh, Priya Singh explains, “The most common reason why applications get rejected is that the documentation is incomplete or the details of the bank are mismatched.
I always advise that applicants should reconfirm their account number, IFSC code and know that account is either active and Aadhaar is seeded else don’t. A lot of this delay can be avoided with simple crosschecks.”
PMMVY Shared Problems and Their Resolutions
Even as execution gets better, beneficiaries usually encounter a bunch of hurdles when they see to it into PMMVY:
Challenge: Aadhaar-related Problems Many women in rural areas do not have Aadhaar cards, or they have cards listing incorrect information. Solution: Aadhaar would be preferred however alternates such as voter ID or ration card could also be considered. Women must ensure that their Aadhaar details are correct before applying.
Challenge: Bank Account Issues Non-active accounts, zero balance accounts or accounts not integrated with Aadhaar are some of the most common reasons for payment failures. Solution: Please ensure that your account is active with low balance and there is no issue in your Aadhaar linking with your bank accounts. Jan Dhan accounts are ideal for this scheme.
Challenge: Processing Delays In certain areas, applications are processed in well-beyond the advertised period. Solution: Protect the acknowledgement you have received and keep meeting your Anganwadi Worker frequently. Delays, which continue to plague the implementation, may be addressed through the PMMVY grievance redressal committees at the block and district levels.
Challenge: No Documentation Many women go without any proper documentation after antenatal check-ups or vaccinations. Solution: Get proof of treatment from caregivers every time and keep asking questions. You can tell the representative that you need these documents for your PMMVY benefit.
Rajni Devi, an activist who helps women access government schemes in a remote district of Jharkhand, has a key insight: “A lot of women don’t know that they can apply for the first installment as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed.
But they wait until the last minute after learning from others about the scheme, and failing to receive the first payment in full. “Our team is encouraging early registration.
Differences at State Level and Further Advantages
PMMVY is a centrally sponsored scheme, but some states have improved it or run similar schemes as well:
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Tamil Nadu: The Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme, of the state provides for an additional Rs. 7,000 and the total benefit amount becomes Rs. 18,000.
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Odisha: The Mamata scheme is in addition to PMMVY with added benefits for second child also.
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Madhya Pradesh: Besides PMMVY Prasuti Sahayata Yojana for Additional Nutritional support
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West Bengal: The state operates Rupashree and Kanyashree schemes which can be availed in addition to PMMVY for eligible women.
Beneficiary women may enquire from the local Anganwadi Workers or the Health Functionaries about additional state-specific benefits that they could be given apart from the cash incentive under PMMVY.
PMMVY Impact and Importance
The PMMVY scheme works to fill gaps in maternal care that have life-long impacts on both the mother and baby. The literature shows that adequate nutrition and rest in pregnancy are positively associated with birth weight and developmental outcomes, whereas financial stress reported in pregnancy is predictive of adverse outcomes.
What makes PMMVY valuable is that “in addition to the money, which is of course welcome, it creates a warranted pathway for the woman to access the healthcare system”, says Dr. Meera Sharma, a maternal health expert who has observed the scheme’s rollout in several states.
For first time mothers, particularly in rural locations, they may not otherwise see the importance of antenatal care. “The scheme basically leads them through the necessary and important milestones of a healthy pregnancy.
For families teetering close to or below the poverty line, the Rs. 11,000 benefit often makes the difference between a pregnant woman keeping up exhausting work until childbirth and being able to take rest in the important later months.
It also can determine whether a family can afford good nutrition and medications during pregnancy — investments that pay long-term dividends in child health outcomes.
