Section 4 (b) of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) provides that subject to such schemes as may be framed by the Central Government, every pregnant woman and lactating mother, except those in regular employment with the Central Government or State Governments or Public Sector Undertakings or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force, are entitled to maternity benefit of not less than ₹6,000/-, in such instalments as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

The Government has approved Pan-India implementation of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a new Centrally Sponsored Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, on 17.05.2017 for implementation across the country with effect from 01.01.2017. Under the scheme, ₹5,000/- is provided to the eligible beneficiary in three installments. The eligible beneficiary also receives the remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards maternity benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman gets ₹6,000/-.

21,20,204 beneficiaries were enrolled on Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana – Common Application Software (PMMVY-CAS) for receiving maternity benefits under the scheme during the financial year 2017-18.

A total of 31,73,905 beneficiaries have received maternity benefits since inception of the scheme.

The above Information was given by Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an Unstarred Question in the Rajya Sabha, today.

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NB/PS/UD