• In recent years, several Indian states have prioritised direct cash transfers to women as a form of social security.
• However, one of the most vulnerable groups, pregnant women, continues to be deprived of their legal right to maternity benefits.
• While the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 mandates a minimum financial aid of ₹6,000 per child, the implementation of this provision has been inadequate.
• Therefore, it is imperative to explore the shortcomings of maternity benefit schemes in India, the challenges in their implementation, and the need for policy reform.

The Undermining of the NFSA Mandate

• The NFSA explicitly states that all pregnant women, except those in the formal sector, are entitled to maternity benefits.
• Adjusted for inflation, this amount should be at least ₹12,000 today, yet even the original ₹6,000 has not been fully implemented.
• Instead, the central government introduced the PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which limits benefits to ₹5,000 for the first child and recently extended coverage to a second child only if it is a girl.
• This restriction violates the universal nature of maternity entitlements outlined in the NFSA and significantly weakens the program’s potential impact.

Shortcomings of PMMVY

• Implementation Failures and Lack of Transparency
• The PMMVY has been marred by serious implementation challenges. Many eligible women are unable to access even the reduced benefits due to bureaucratic hurdles and digital inefficiencies.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development provides little information on the program’s performance, undermining transparency.
• Although Right to Information (RTI) queries have provided some insight, they reveal a dismal picture.
• Effective coverage of the PMMVY, defined as the proportion of pregnant women receiving at least one instalment, peaked at only 36% in 2019-20 and plummeted to just 9% in 2023-24.
• The primary reason for this decline appears to be disruptions caused by software changes and overly complex implementation processes.
• Structural Barriers and Digital Exclusion
• One of the significant hurdles in accessing PMMVY benefits is the over-reliance on Aadhaar-based payments and digital verification.
• Many women, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds, struggle to navigate these systems, leading to their exclusion.
• Technical glitches and procedural complications have further discouraged participation.
• Instead of simplifying access, the government has introduced additional barriers, raising concerns about whether the administrative inefficiencies are deliberate cost-cutting measures rather than mere oversight.

A Comparison of State-Level Success Stories and Lessons for the Central Government

• Tamil Nadu: A Model for Comprehensive Maternity Benefits
• Tamil Nadu has been a frontrunner in social welfare programs, particularly in maternal and child healthcare.
• The state’s maternity benefit scheme, originally introduced in 1987, has undergone several enhancements over the years.
• Under its current version, pregnant women receive financial assistance of ₹18,000 per child, a significantly higher amount than the ₹5,000 provided under the PMMVY.
• The benefits are disbursed in instalments to ensure continuous support throughout pregnancy and after childbirth.
• Additionally, Tamil Nadu’s program has been designed with a strong emphasis on accessibility and ease of implementation.
• The state government has ensured that documentation requirements are minimal, reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
• As a result, Tamil Nadu achieved 84% coverage of all births in 2023-24, a stark contrast to the PMMVY’s nationwide coverage of less than 10%.
• Odisha: Expanding Benefits with Political Commitment
• Odisha’s Mamata Scheme, launched in 2009, is another example of a well-functioning maternity benefit program.
• Unlike the PMMVY, which restricts benefits to only the first child (with a recent conditional extension to second-child girls), Odisha’s program provides ₹10,000 per child, covering a broader base of beneficiaries.
• Ahead of the 2024 general election, the state government decided to double this amount, demonstrating a clear political commitment to maternal welfare.
• Odisha’s Economic Survey data suggests that the Mamata Scheme achieved 64% coverage of all births in 2021-22, significantly higher than the PMMVY’s national figures.
• One reason for this success is the state government’s focus on simplified procedures and direct beneficiary outreach.
• Unlike the PMMVY, which has suffered from digital payment failures and bureaucratic inefficiencies, Odisha’s scheme ensures that funds reach eligible women in a timely manner.
• Lessons for the Central Government
• Expand Coverage: The PMMVY should extend benefits beyond just the first child, as seen in Odisha and Tamil Nadu, to provide comprehensive support for maternal health.
• Increase Benefit Amounts
• The financial support offered by the PMMVY is insufficient to meet basic nutritional and healthcare needs during pregnancy.
• The central government should follow Tamil Nadu’s model and increase benefits in line with inflation.
• Simplify Implementation
• The PMMVY is plagued by digital verification failures and bureaucratic red tape.
• Tamil Nadu and Odisha have shown that streamlined procedures lead to higher coverage and better accessibility.
• Ensure Political Commitment
• The PMMVY has remained stagnant since its launch in 2017, whereas Tamil Nadu and Odisha have actively improved their schemes over time.
• A commitment to periodic evaluation and enhancement of maternity benefits is essential.

The Way Forward: The Need for Policy Reform

• The stark contrast between state-level programs and the PMMVY highlights the urgent need for policy reform at the national level.
• The central government must revamp the maternity benefit system to align with the NFSA’s original intent. Key reforms should include:
• Universal Coverage: Removing restrictions on the number of children covered under the scheme.
• Adequate Financial Support: Increasing the maternity benefit to at least ₹12,000 and indexing it to inflation.
• Simplified Access: Reducing bureaucratic hurdles and eliminating excessive digital dependencies that exclude the most vulnerable women.
• Transparency and Accountability: Ensuring proactive disclosure of data on fund allocations and disbursement rates to allow public scrutiny.

While India offers 26 weeks of paid maternity leave in the formal sector, women in the unorganised sector receive a meagre ₹5,000, if they manage to overcome the hurdles of the PMMVY. The program’s failures highlight a deeper issue: a lack of political will to support maternal and child health comprehensively. A well-designed and adequately funded maternity benefit program would not only uphold the rights of pregnant women but also contribute to broader social and economic benefits. The time has come for the government to acknowledge the shortcomings of the PMMVY and ensure that maternity entitlements are delivered in both letter and spirit.