Evaluating the Policy Impact of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) on Maternal Health and Economic Well-Being in the Context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is India's flagship maternity benefit programme, designed to reduce poverty, improve maternal health, and advance gender equality among economically vulnerable women, particularly in rural areas. This study evaluated PMMVY's effectiveness in enhancing maternal healthcare access and economic security among rural women in Sivagangai District, Tamil Nadu, India, and assessed its alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 3, and 5. A mixed-methods, descriptive cross-sectional design was used, surveying 100 PMMVY beneficiaries across five taluks of Sivagangai District and conducting in-depth interviews with 15 frontline health workers and a purposively selected subsample of 10 beneficiaries. Only 28% (28/100) of surveyed women received the full monetary benefit of INR 5000 across all three installments. While institutional delivery rates (91/100, 91%) and antenatal care attendance (84/100, 84%, four or more visits) were high, major barriers included delayed fund disbursement (71/100, 71%), cumbersome documentation requirements (63/100, 63%), and limited autonomy over fund utilization (52/100, 52%). Additional challenges included low awareness of installment conditions, exclusion of higher-parity pregnancies, and digital access barriers. PMMVY positively influenced maternal health-seeking behavior, but its overall impact was constrained by systemic delays, restrictive eligibility criteria, and gender-based disparities in resource control. Targeted policy reforms focusing on community outreach, streamlined disbursement, and women's financial autonomy are needed to realize PMMVY's full potential.