India accounts for a fifth of the total childbirths in the world, with a maternal mortality rate of 113 per 1,00,000 live births. There was a 27 percent decline in pregnant women obtaining four or more ante-natal check-ups during the months of national lockdown in 2020, between April and June, compared to the same time in 2019. The number of institutional births has decreased by 28% and Prenatal services have decreased by 22%.

• In the beginning of 2017, the Government of India implemented the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which provides a monetary incentive of 5,000 to pregnant women and breastfeeding moms for the family’s first live child.
• The initiative aims to improve health-seeking behaviour and compensate pregnant women for salary loss, particularly in unorganised industries.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development is in charge of implementing PMMVY, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• All Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM) are eligible, with the exception of those who are in regular employment with the Central/State Governments or PSUs, or who are receiving equivalent benefits under any legislation now in place.
• Since its establishment, the PMMVY has covered 2.01 crore women across the country, disbursing a total of Rs. 8,722 crore.
• However, the scheme’s performance has been weak, prompting an urgent need for reform, especially given that the new coronavirus pandemic has resulted in economic shocks for the 260 lakh women who give birth to a child on average in India each year.

The Government of India’s initiatives to improve maternal healthcare include the following.

• Poshan Abhiyan.
• Mother and Child Protection Card.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).
• Janani Suraksha Yojana.
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK).
• LaQshya program.
• Safe Motherhood Assurance (SUMAN) initiative. 

Issues associated 

• Budgetary Cuts: Despite the government’s sustained emphasis on maternal and child health, the entire budget for women and child development has been cut by 20% for 2021-22. Further grouping of the PMMVY plan under the SAMARTHYA scheme has resulted in a decrease in budget allocation for the PMMVY. SAMARTHYA’s entire budget is Rs. 2,522 crore, which is roughly equal to the budget of PMMVY alone in prior fiscal years.
• Implementation Gaps: The PMMVY scheme’s implementation gaps result in limited coverage. These gaps are caused by a lack of understanding among intended recipients as well as process-level issues.
• Enrolment and disbursements are declining: According to statistics published by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, enrolment and payouts under the plan have decreased in the previous two years . In 2020-21, more than half of registered beneficiaries did not receive all three payments, and enrolment in the plan fell by 9%.
• Inadequate Coverage: While the anticipated eligible population of PW&LM in India was 128.7 lakh (2017-18), the Government set a goal of 51.70 lakh beneficiaries, representing barely 40% of the eligible population. As the objective has stayed constant over the years, this suggests an exclusion error of at least 60% since 2017.
• Maternity Benefit Amount Is Inadequate: Most women continue to work throughout and after their pregnancies because they cannot afford to lose pay; they also spend money on out-of-pocket costs during pregnancy. The present entitlement of 5,000 over a year corresponds to barely one month’s salary loss (based on the MGNREGA wage rate of 202).

Way forward

• Simplifying Procedures: The existing registration form includes a mother and child protection (MPC) card, a husband’s Aadhaar card, a bank passbook, and a registration form for each of the three instalments, resulting in applications that are delayed, denied, or pending. Beneficiaries may be more likely to register if the process is simplified.
• Learning from the States: The MAMATA scheme is a testament to an inclusive and effective execution of the maternity benefit programme, acting as promising evidence for the Centre to strengthen the PMMVY in accordance with the Odisha Government Scheme.
• Extending Maternity Benefits: The government will examine extending the PMMVY scheme’s maternity benefit to the second live birth. It is critical to include a second live birth under maternity benefit coverage, especially for women in the unorganised sector, who are more exposed to economic shocks and nutritional loss for all child deliveries.
• Increasing the Maternity Benefit Amount: Because the PMMVY’s major goal is to give partial wage compensation, it is critical to examine the maternity benefit amount granted under the programme. In accordance with the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961, which mandates 12 weeks of maternity leave for women with two or more children, pregnant and breastfeeding moms, and taking into account the MGNREGA minimum wage rate, PW&LM shall be entitled to 12 weeks of wage compensation totaling to $15,000.

An ambitious Prime Minister’s Overarching Plan for Holistic Nutrition (POSHAN) Abhiyan and a nationwide maternity benefit scheme are promising measures by the Centre to fulfil India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goal of enhancing maternal health. However, objectives can only be met if we reassess the scheme’s design and implementation, incorporating lessons from states like Odisha that are effectively prioritising maternal health and nutrition in a pragmatic approach.

How to structure

1. Give the intro about the health of women in India, support this with statistics and data
2. Mention the major schemes and programmes related to maternal health and nutrition of women in India and give the objectives, its achievements
3. Mention the challenges faced and write way forward
4. Conclude

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/state-schemes-can-cast-a-lifeline-to-this-welfare-plan/article38094862.ece