Over 1 lakh beneficiaries in Punjab availed benefit under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna
Chandigarh, August 16: Over one lakh beneficiaries in Punjab have availed the benefit under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna (PMMVY). This was said by Punjab’s Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary.
Giving a brief detail, Minister Aruna Chaudhary said, “Till 31st July 2018 a total of 1,06,709 eligible beneficiaries have availed the benefit under the scheme and an amount of Rs. 27.10 crore has been credited directly into their bank accounts through online mode."
The Minister further said that the PMMVY has been implemented in the state from 1st July 2017 under which the state government provides an assistance of Rs. 1000, Rs. 2000 and Rs. 2000 in 3 installments to the pregnant women as well as the breastfeeding women. The total assistance per beneficiary is Rs. 5000. “There is no condition relating to the income to avail the benefits under the scheme. Any woman who is not a government employee can avail the benefit of the scheme,” she added.
Aruna Chaudhary, in the end, said that the state government is also waging an awareness campaign to ensure that maximum beneficiaries avail the benefits entailed under the scheme. The minister exhorted the common masses to contact the Anganwadi worker at their nearest Anganwadi centre in order to derive maximum benefit. “The helpline numbers of the department 0172-2608746 and 70872-23325 can also be contacted,” she concluded.
Importantly, the Punjab government provides the financial assistance of Rs. 5000 in three installments to the pregnant women and the breastfeeding women on the birth of their first child under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna (PMMVY).
BACKGROUND:
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a Maternity Benefit Programme that is implemented in all the districts of the country in accordance with the provision of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Objectives
Providing partial compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentive s so that the woman can take adequate res t before and after delivery of the first living child.
The cash incentive provided would lead to improved health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW& LM).
Target beneficiaries
All Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers, excluding PW&LM who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force.
All eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who have their pregnancy on or after 01.01.2017 for first child in family.
The date and stage of pregnancy for a beneficiary would be counted with respect to her LMP date as mentioned in the MCP card.
Case of Miscarriage/Still Birth :
A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under the scheme only once.
In case of miscarriage/stillbirth, the beneficiary would be eligible to claim the remaining installment (s) in event of any future pregnancy.
Thus, after receiving the 1st installment, if the beneficiary has a miscarriage, she would only be eligible for receiving 2nd and 3rd installment in event of future pregnancy subject to fulfillment of eligibility criterion and conditionalities of the scheme. Similarly, if the beneficiary has a miscarriage or stillbirth after receiving 1 st and 2nd installments, she would only be eligible for receiving 3rd installment in event of future pregnancy subject to fulfillment of eligibility criterion and conditionalities of the scheme.
A case of Infant Mortality: A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under the scheme only once. That is, in case of infant mortality, she will not be eligible for claiming benefits under the scheme if she has already received all the installments of the maternity benefit under PMMVY earlier.
Pregnant and Lactating AWWs/ AWHs/ ASHA may also avail the benefits under the PMMVY subject to fulfillment of scheme conditionalities.
Benefits under PMMVY
Cash incentive of Rs 5000 in three instalments i.e. first instalment of Rs 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 Rs 2000/ - after six months of pregnancy on receiving at least one ante-natal check-up (ANC) and third instalment of Rs 2000/ - after childbirth is registered and the child has received the first cycle of BCG, OPV, DPT and Hepatitis - B, or its equivalent/ substitute.
The eligible beneficiaries would receive the incentive given under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for Institutional delivery and the incentive received under JSY would be accounted towards maternity benefits so that on an average a woman gets Rs 6000 /-.
Registration under the Scheme
The eligible women desirous of availing maternity benefits are required to register under the scheme at the Anganwadi Centre (AWC) / approved Health facility depending upon the implementing department for that particular State /UT.
For registration, the beneficiary shall submit the prescribed application Form 1 - A, complete in all respects, along with the relevant documents and undertaking/consent duly signed by her and her husband, at the AWC/ approved Health facility. While submitting the form, the beneficiary will be required to submit her and her husband’s Aadhaar details with their written consents, her/husband/family member’s Mobile Number and her Bank/Post Office account details.
The prescribed form (s) can be obtained from the AWC/ approved Health facility free of cost. The form(s) can also be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The beneficiary would be required to fill up the prescribed scheme forms for registration and claim of the installment and submit the same at the Anganwadi Centre/ approved Health facility. The beneficiary should obtain an acknowledgment from Anganwadi Worker/ASHA/ANM for a record and future reference.
For registration and claim of first instalment, duly filled Form 1 - A along with copy of MCP Card (Mother and Child Protection Card), Proof of Identity of Beneficiary and her Husband (Aadhaar Card or permitted Alternate ID Proof of both and Bank/ Post Office Account details of the beneficiary is required to be submitted.
For claiming the second installment, a beneficiary is required to submit duly filled up Form 1 - B after six months of pregnancy, along with the copy of MCP Card showing at least one ANC.
For claiming the third installment, a beneficiary is required to submit duly filled up Form 1 - C along with a copy of childbirth registration and a copy of MCP card showing that the child has received the first cycle of immunization or its equivalent/substitute.
In case a beneficiary has complied with the conditionalities stipulated under the scheme but could not register/submit claims within the stipulated time can submit claim(s) - A beneficiary can apply, at any point of time but not later than 730 days of pregnancy, even if she had not claimed any of the instalments earlier but fulfils eligibility criterion and conditionalities for receiving benefits. In cases where LMP date is not recorded in MCP card viz. a beneficiary is coming for a claim of the third installment under the scheme, the claim in such cases must be submitted within 460 days from the date of birth of the child beyond which period no claim shall be entertained.