Sonia Gandhi Critiques Underfunding of Maternity Benefit Program

Sonia Gandhi criticized the government's flagship maternity benefits program, citing underfunding which limits entitlements to beneficiaries. Through a Zero Hour mention, she raised concerns over reduced funding for the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) and questioned its exclusion from Union Budget allocations, urging government accountability.

Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), critiqued the government for severely underfunding a flagship maternity benefits program for pregnant women. She warned that the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) lacked sufficient funding, leading to a sharp decline in benefits provided to expecting mothers.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, Gandhi questioned why the number of beneficiaries under PMMVY had plummeted. She highlighted its origin in the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and its role in the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) during COVID-19, despite current budgetary neglect.

Gandhi expressed surprise at the omission of separate PMMVY allocations in budget documents, noting only a general mention under the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s Samarthya program, which is allocated a mere Rs 2,521 crore. She called for clearer financial commitments to uphold the provisions legislated by Parliament.