Heart of the problemLow public spending is certainly part of the problem. Take two important schemes for women and children: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).
Both are part of the National Food Security Act 2013 and have suffered from neglect in different ways in the past six years.The PMMVY is a cash transfer to pregnant and lactating women.
It is supposed to be the equivalent of the Maternity Benefits Act for women in the unorganized sector. Until 2017, a pre-existing scheme, Indira Gandhi Matru Sahayog Yojana, running in 50-odd districts continued as before.