They urged PM Modi to make the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) available without implementing the norm of it being available to the first child only.
A group of 40 gynaecologists, from across India, have written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ocassion of Women’s Day, to implement maternity entitlements as per National Food Security Act norms.
They urged PM Modi to make the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) available without implementing the norm of it being available to the first child only.
“PMMVY, the Central Scheme for maternity entitlements, should immediately be made universal and free of conditionalities, and not linked to the number of children or age of the woman as that is fundamentally discriminatory to both women and children as citizens,” the letter says.
Doctors have also urged for an increase in the amount of maternity entitlement. “The amount should be increased from Rs 5,000 to at least Rs 6,000 (as per the National Food Security norms) and be increased progressively to achieve coherence with wage compensation,” it says.
The doctors also demanded supplementary nutrition through, locally prepared foods, to be supplied to all pregnant and lactating women at the local Anganwadi centre.
The doctors add that 95 per cent of women work in unorganised sectors and are not eligible for maternity leave.
Up to five percent of women in India, who work in organised sectors, are entitled to six months of leave according to a recent amendment in National Maternity Benefit Act.
“Women workers are in the informal and unorganized sector and do not receive any wage compensation during pregnancy and after childbirth, although we expect them to rest, gain weight, improve their own health and then provide the baby with exclusive breastfeeding for six months,” says the letter. “The implementation of the above, which are so critical for the health, nutrition and care of women and children, is not possible unless women can withdraw from her regular responsibilities of work to be with the child in the first six months.”
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