Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has accused the Union government of severely underfunding its maternity benefits scheme, resulting in a drastic drop in support for pregnant women. Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, Sonia claimed that the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) had seen a sharp decline in beneficiaries due to inadequate budget allocation.
Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), passed in 2013, pregnant women in the unorganised sector are entitled to a maternity benefit of ₹6,000 per child.
The PMMVY, introduced in 2017, was meant to fulfil this entitlement. However, the scheme provides only ₹5,000 for the first child, with benefits extended to the second child only if it is a girl.
Gandhi further highlighted a concerning decline in coverage. In 2022-23, around 68% of pregnant women received at least one instalment under the scheme for their first child. However, this figure plummeted to just 12% the following year.
“I want to ask the Union government—why was this allowed to happen?” she said.
She also questioned why the PMMVY was not listed separately in the Budget. “For full implementation, the scheme requires ₹12,000 crore annually. Yet, there is no clear allocation for it in the Budget,” she pointed out.
Instead, the funds appear to be included under Samarthya, a broader programme under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The total allocation for Samarthya in 2025-26 stands at just ₹2,521 crore, raising concerns that the maternity scheme is being sidelined.
“This underfunding is a violation of a key provision of the NFSA,” she said.
In response, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur spoke in favour of the government’s approach. She said that under the PMMVY, eligible women receive ₹5,000 during pregnancy and lactation time. Additional incentives are provided under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery.
She stressed that the first pregnancy is often overwhelming, and the scheme is designed to offer essential assistance at this critical juncture.
Despite these explanations, questions persist about the drop in beneficiaries and unclear budget allocations. The issue is likely to spark further debate as opposition leaders continue to press for greater financial commitment to maternity benefits.
