Nearly 37 lakh women have received cash incentives under the Centre’s maternity benefits programme since the launch of Matru Vandana Saptah last year, a release from the Ministry of Women and Child Development said. The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) offers pregnant women and lactating mothers Rs. 5,000 as assistance for the first birth in the family. The programme’s aim is to reduce malnutrition. A sum of Rs. 1,000 is also given to women after institutional delivery under the Janani Suraksha Yojana. The scheme has an estimated 51.6 lakh beneficiaries a year. As many as 48.11 lakh women have been enrolled in the Matru Vandana Saptah and the Centre has disbursed an amount of Rs. 1,168.63 crores to various States, the release said.
