Monetary Incentives to be Provided to Pregnant & Lactating Mothers Under PMMVY

Port Blair, Dec 2: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency, Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) launched the ‘Matru Vandana Saptah-2019’ to be observed from Dec 2 to 8 on the theme- ‘Surakshit Janani Viksit Dharni’ under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) at a function organized by the Department of Social Welfare, A&N Administration in the conference hall of Raj Niwas today. The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Chetan B Sanghi, Chairperson, PBMC, Shri N.K. Udhaya Kumar, Adhyaksh, ZPSA, Shri Subir Chander, Principal Secretary (Finance & Revenue), Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Principal Secretary (Health), Shri KR Meena, Secretary (Social Welfare), Smt. Geetika Sharma, other senior Officers of the Administration besides frontline workers of Social Welfare Department, registered beneficiaries of PMMVY and ANMs were also present on the occasion. 

The Lt. Governor also approved and acknowledged the online application registration of the beneficiary, Smt. Jyothi under PMMVY.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary said, as per the data available, the UT of A&N Islands is going in the right direction and is one among the best in the country, in implementing the PMMVY scheme, since the last two years. He also acknowledged the contributions of the frontline workers of Social Welfare Department towards the positive implementation of the scheme in the Islands. The Chief Secretary also stated that the data of every needy/malnourished/undernourished child in the Islands have been recorded and the same is being monitored by the Social Welfare Department, to ensure that proper nutrition is provided to the child. Efforts are also being made by the Administration to ensure that no eligible person is left uncovered under the scheme, the Chief Secretary said adding that to overcome malnutrition, eggs and milk are also being added in the list of nutritional food items provided to the children, pregnant/lactating mothers. 

Informing about the need to upgrade the Anganwadis functioning in the Islands and to ensure availability of drinking water and toilet facilities for the children, the Chief Secretary said, the Lt. Governor has accorded approval for providing these facilities and the Finance Department of the Administration has allocated fund for the same. In a span of 1 to 1 ½ year, the Administration through the Department of PWD and Social Welfare will be able to provide the required infrastructure/facilities in all the Anganwadis of the Islands, the Chief Secretary remarked. As per the data and survey conducted by the Health Ministry, the Anganwadis of A&N Islands have shown index improvement and for this, the Chief Secretary has lauded the Social Welfare Department and the Anganwadi workers. He said, every delivery that takes place in health institutions are being mapped and the benefits under the PMMVY scheme are being provided in installments to the registered beneficiaries.

The Chief Secretary further mentioned that the Administration will strive to achieve 100% target in the days to come and during the weeklong observance of ‘Matru Vandana Saptah’, apart from the programmes outlined by the Department of Social Welfare, quality enhancement and issues related to data discrepancies and disbursal of monetary benefits under the scheme will also be looked into.  He also lauded the divergent support received from various departments including Zilla Parishad, PRIs and PBMC in implementing the scheme here in the Islands and reiterated the commitment of the Administration in ensuring the benefits of the scheme reach the target beneficiaries.

In her welcome address, the Secretary Social Welfare, Smt. Geetika Sharma said, with the objective to ensure the benefit of the scheme reaches every household besides registration of left out beneficiaries and to create awareness about the benefit of the scheme, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, GoI has launched the celebration of ‘Matru Vandana Saptah’ across the country. Hailing the efforts of the frontline workers of Social Welfare Department viz. CDPOs, Mukhya Sevikas, Anganwadi Workers besides the Departments of Health, Rural Development and PRI members, the Secretary said, the UT Administration of A&N Islands has been able to achieve the number one position among all other UTs in implementing PMMVY scheme, since the last two years with 84% achievement so far.

Under PMMVY, cash incentives of Rs. 5000/- in three installments will be provided i.e. first installment 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 while the second installment of Rs 2000/ will be paid after six months of pregnancy on receiving at least one ante-natal check-up (ANC) and the third installment of Rs 2000/ will be provided after child birth is registered and the child has received the first cycle of BCG, OPV, DPT and Hepatitis - B, or its equivalent/substitute. Those beneficiaries under ‘Janani Suraksha Yojana’ (JSY) implemented by the Health Department are also eligible to avail the benefit under Matru Vandana Yojana, the Secretary added. She also outlined the programmes to be organized during the observance of ‘Matru Vandana Saptah’ and urged all frontline workers to reach out to the beneficiaries and achieve the target set.