The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a maternity benefit program. It was rechristened from the erstwhile Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY). IGMSY was implemented in 2010 using the platform of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in selected 53 districts across the country. PMMVY is a pan-India expansion of the scheme.

It is a conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women. Owing to the economic and social conditions of their family, some women must work till the day they deliver their child, irrespective of their health conditions. Some resume working, within a few days of delivery- making it a tormenting work spiral. PMMVY has provided for various cash incentives for these mothers. It provides a partial wage compensation to women for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare and to provide conditions for safe delivery, good nutrition and feeding practices.

Beneficiaries under the scheme are given a cash incentive of ₹5000 in three instalments. The conditions are -

• First instalment is of ₹1000 on early registration of pregnancy at the Anganwadi Centre (AWC)/approved health facility as may be identified by the respective administering state/UT.
• Second instalment of ₹2000 after six months of pregnancy on receiving at least one ante-natal check-up. 
• Third instalment of ₹2000 on registration of the birth of the child and completion of first cycle of vaccination for the first living child of the family.

 “When the scheme was initially implemented in all districts of the country with effect from January 2017, our style of promoting it was unique.”, said Mrs. Harshita Sharma, who is the head of an Anganwadi in Munirka (South Delhi) “Nowadays most people don’t like to have a conversation if someone personally knocks at their doors, to tell them about such issues. They don’t like to be disturbed. So, we decided to spread awareness through rallies. Ladies in the market would stop and try to grasp whatever information they could….” she continued.

“…. The response started getting better after a few weeks. Women started to come to our AWC to know more about the scheme.”

“Once the registration is done at our AWC, we ask the beneficiary to also register themselves at the nearby dispensary. We give the prospective beneficiary information about the process of cash transfers. A lot of people we deal with are migrant laborers, many who don’t have a bank account. So, we help them open a bank account. Their identity proofs and documents must be intact for this. I appreciate this step in availing benefits of the scheme, as it allows women to be a bit more financially secure with money being transferred to their bank accounts.” told Mrs. Sharma.

“This scheme has truly been helpful for mothers like me.” said Mrs. Phoolwati who is a beneficiary of the scheme. “Madam helped in not only understanding the details of the scheme, but also for my correct registration. I didn’t have a bank account, she guided me, step by step during the whole process. She also particularly asked to take care of what details I must fill, so that I don’t miss out on the benefits due to a clerical error.”

“My son Hadi is now 11 months old. I have gotten ₹3000 in my bank account so far. Few of his injections are pending. Once he gets those doses, I will submit the required documents and I am surely going to get the pending ₹2000 also. I have used ₹1200 so far. I got food items as directed by Doctor Madam for Hadi and I.”

“I am fully satisfied with the scheme, and I spread the information to women around me. Many people don’t trust officials when they tell them about cash-benefits. But I am someone who has got the cash transfer as was promised. On hearing my story, people have believed it more. So, I never miss a chance to tell a pregnant woman about this scheme and do my bit for the society.”

Under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), more than 3.11 crore beneficiaries have been enrolled and maternity benefits of more than Rs.12150 crores have been disbursed to over 2.77 crore beneficiaries since inception of the scheme till December 2022.