UPSC Articles
Call for Universalisation of Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana(PMMVY)
Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II –Women & Governance
In News
- The Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY) was announced on December 31, 2016 which gives a benefit of ₹6,000 to pregnant and lactating mothers for the birth of the first child.
- ₹5,000 would be disbursed in three installments upon meeting several conditionalities — registration of pregnancy, at least one ante-natal check-up, registration of child birth and vaccinations.
- The remaining cash incentive of up to ₹1,000 is to be given under a separate scheme called the Janani Suraksha Yojana so that on an “average” women get a total sum of ₹6,000.
- The objective is to compensate women for wage loss due to child birth.
- Some of the reasons which has led to exclusion of many beneficiaries under PMMVY
- Only for the first born
- Proof of address of marital home – which proves challenging for a newlywed expecting a child and often residing in her natal home during pregnancy. She is then forced to go from pillar to post to claim benefits.
- Minimum age of 19 years – leaves out younger brides, who hesitate in getting their marriages registered as the legal age of marriage is 18 years.
- Husbands Aadhar Card – Affects single women which include unwed mothers, deserted wives and widows
- Tedious documentation: Total 6 application forms to be filled, with total of 30 of 32 pages to be filled by the beneficiary
- As many as 9 IDs to be produced – Aadhaar card, voter ID card; ration card copy of bank passbook and maternal and child protection (MCP) card etc.
- Activists urge for a need for reviewing the scheme and making it universal by removing restrictions on the number of children as well as including all women, whether they are in the formal or informal sector, engaged in paid or unpaid work.
- Also, there is a demand that the sum promised should also be at least on par with minimum wages for women in self-employment, unpaid work, or working for less than minimum wages
Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019
