To discourage pre-birth sex selection, the Centre is extending maternity benefits offered under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) to women giving birth to a second child too, if it’s a girl. Until now, these benefits have been limited to eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers for the first child. The rollout is expected to commence from April 1, 2022.
The schemes of the ministry are converged and renewed under three heads: Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. is expected to be rolled out from April 1. The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), WCD Secretary, Indevar Pandey shared that the government will be offering benefits under PMMVY to the second-born child if it is a girl.
A maternity benefit of ₹5,000 is provided in three instalments to eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers for the first childbirth. The process is being simplified and the money will be granted in two instalments instead. In the case of a second child, the full amount will be given to the beneficiary only after birth, and only in cases where the newborn is a girl.
The minister for women and child development Smriti Irani pointed out that this aims “to discourage pre-birth-sex selection and promote the girl child.” The PMMVY is estimated to cover 51.70 lakh beneficiaries annually.
Under PMMVY, the maternity benefit is accessible to all women excluding those who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the state governments, Public Sector Undertakings and those who are eligible for similar benefits under any law for the time being in force.