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New Helpline 1515: How POSHAN and PMMVY Schemes Boost Nutrition Access

The government has launched a new helpline number to make it easier for people to access nutrition schemes. Starting November 1, beneficiaries can call 1515 for support with POSHAN and PMMVY programs. During the transition period, both the new and old numbers will remain operational. These schemes provide crucial financial and nutritional support to pregnant women and young children across India.

Key Points: Centre Launches New Helpline 1515 for POSHAN PMMVY Schemes

  • New helpline number 1515 replaces old number 14408 from November 1
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan tackles malnutrition among women and children since 2018
  • PMMVY provides cash incentives for pregnant women and lactating mothers
  • Both schemes offer direct benefit transfers to support nutrition and health
2 min read

Centre announces new helpline number for POSHAN, PMMVY schemes

Ministry of Women and Child Development introduces easy-to-remember helpline 1515 for POSHAN and PMMVY schemes starting November 1, improving beneficiary access.

"This change has been introduced to simplify recall and improve accessibility for beneficiaries seeking assistance under POSHAN and PMMVY schemes - Ministry of Women and Child Development"

New Delhi, Oct 24

The Ministry of Women and Child Development on Friday announced a change in the toll-free helpline number for POSHAN and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).

The new number will make it easier for citizens to remember and access support services.

“The new helpline number 1515 will be live from November 1, replacing the existing number 14408,” the Ministry said.

“This change has been introduced to simplify recall and improve accessibility for beneficiaries seeking assistance under POSHAN and PMMVY schemes,” it added.

The Ministry noted that as the integration is in process, users may experience a brief transition period.

“During this time, if callers are unable to connect to the new number 1515, they are advised to continue using the old number 14408,” it said.

POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched in 2018 to address the rising concern of malnutrition among pregnant women, lactating mothers, and young children.

Notably, the Poshan Maah initiative, under the Poshan Abhiyaan, has significantly advanced India’s fight against malnutrition. It has played a key role in building a healthier and stronger nation through nutrition, reducing stunting among children.

On the other hand, the PMMVY scheme -- launched in 2010 and then renamed in 2017 -- provides financial assistance to support nutritious diets and improve health-seeking behaviour amongst pregnant women and lactating mothers, and also promotes positive attitudes toward the girl child.

The PMMVY offers cash incentives as partial compensation for wage loss to enable mothers to rest before and after the delivery of the first child.

It is a centrally sponsored scheme under Mission Shakti’s sub-scheme 'Samarthya', and provides direct financial assistance through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

Under PMMVY, a cash incentive of Rs 5,000 is provided in two instalments for the first child, and Rs 6,000 is provided in one instalment post-birth for the second girl child.

Noting that it “remains committed to ensuring smooth communication and uninterrupted support for all beneficiaries across the country,” the Ministry stated that the new helplines “will continue to serve as a single point of contact for queries, information, and support related to POSHAN and PMMVY”.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good move by the government. The old number was quite complicated to remember. Hope the transition is smooth and beneficiaries don't face issues during the changeover period.
S
Sarah B
While the simplified number is welcome, I hope they also improve the actual service quality. Last time I called, I was on hold for 20 minutes before getting through to someone who could help.
A
Arjun K
POSHAN Abhiyaan has been a game-changer in rural areas. The awareness campaigns about nutrition have really helped many families in my village. Easy helpline number will make it more accessible for all. 👍
M
Meera T
The PMMVY scheme's focus on supporting the girl child is commendable. The financial assistance for the second girl child shows the government's commitment to gender equality. More such initiatives are needed!
V
Vikram M
Hope they properly train the helpline staff to handle queries effectively. Sometimes government helplines have untrained operators who can't answer specific scheme-related questions properly.
D
David E
It's good to see the government making schemes more user-friendly. The DBT system has reduced corruption significantly in benefit transfers. Hope this helpline improvement further enhances accessibility.

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