The Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme (MRMBS) is a genuine maternity welfare scheme implemented by the Government of Tamil Nadu to provide financial assistance to eligible pregnant women and mothers.
Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries can receive benefits worth ₹18,000. The scheme is intended to support poor pregnant women and mothers with maternity-related expenses and nutritional needs.
The ₹18,000 benefit amount under the scheme has been officially confirmed by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
What is the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme?
The Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme is a maternity assistance programme of the Tamil Nadu Government.
The scheme provides financial support to eligible pregnant women, particularly from economically weaker families, to help meet expenses related to pregnancy, nutrition and childbirth.
The official Chennai District Government website lists this scheme under the Health and Family Welfare Department and confirms that the scheme is applicable for the first and second deliveries subject to eligibility conditions.
How Much Money Will Pregnant Women Get?
Eligible beneficiaries can receive benefits worth ₹18,000 under the scheme.
The scheme amount was enhanced from ₹12,000 to ₹18,000 by the Government of Tamil Nadu. This increase is officially recorded in the Government Order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department.
Therefore, the claim that the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme provides ₹18,000 in benefits is genuine.
Who Can Apply for This Scheme?
The scheme is not automatically available to every pregnant woman. Applicants must satisfy the eligibility conditions prescribed by the Tamil Nadu Government.
According to the official government information, the scheme includes conditions such as:
- The benefit is applicable for the first and second deliveries.
- Financial assistance is intended for eligible poor pregnant women, including women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
- The pregnant mother should have completed 19 years of age.
- The pregnancy should be registered through the appropriate government health system.
- A PICME/RCH number is provided as part of the pregnancy registration process.
- The beneficiary should have a savings bank account in her name, subject to the applicable rules.
- Aadhaar and bank account details may be required.
The exact eligibility and documentation requirements should be confirmed with the local government health facility or the official PICME portal before applying.
Can You Apply Online?
Yes.
The Government of Tamil Nadu’s official PICME portal provides an online facility related to the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme / PMMVY Application Form.
Official PICME Website
👉 Official Application Website:
https://picme3.tn.gov.in/
The above is the official PICME portal maintained by the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Government of Tamil Nadu.
How to Apply Online?
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit the Official PICME Website
Go to the official Tamil Nadu PICME portal:
Step 2: Complete Pregnancy Registration
If you have not already registered, use the available Self Registration facility and complete the required pregnancy/RCH registration details.
Step 3: Obtain Your PICME/RCH Number
After the registration process, the pregnant woman will receive the required PICME/RCH identification number.
Step 4: Open the Maternity Benefit Scheme Section
On the official PICME website, look for:
Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme / PMMVY Application Form
The official portal currently displays this application option.
Step 5: Enter the Required Details
Provide the required personal, pregnancy, Aadhaar, bank and other information accurately.
Step 6: Submit the Application
Check all the details carefully before submitting the application.
Documents Required
Depending on the applicable rules and verification process, applicants may be asked to provide documents/details such as:
- Aadhaar Card
- Bank Passbook
- PICME/RCH Number
- Pregnancy registration details
- Bank account details
- Other documents required by the government health department
The Chennai District Government website specifically lists Aadhaar Number with Bank Passbook among the required documents for the scheme and mentions the PICME number as part of the registration process.
Is the ₹18,000 Given to Every Pregnant Woman?
No.
This is an important point.
The scheme should not be understood as a programme where every pregnant woman automatically receives ₹18,000.
The beneficiary must satisfy the eligibility requirements specified by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The number of deliveries, age, economic eligibility, pregnancy registration and other applicable conditions may be considered.
Therefore, applicants should verify their eligibility through the government health authorities or the official PICME portal.
Is This a Genuine Government Scheme?
Yes. The Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme is a genuine Government of Tamil Nadu scheme.
The scheme is listed on official Tamil Nadu Government websites, including the Chennai District Government portal.
The Government of Tamil Nadu has also officially recorded the increase of the beneficiary amount from ₹12,000 to ₹18,000.
The Tamil Nadu Budget Highlights for 2026-27 also report that ₹4,042 crore had been disbursed to 34,40,550 women under the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme.
Important: Beware of Fake Websites
Pregnant women and their families should be careful while applying for government schemes.
Always use the official Tamil Nadu Government/PICME website rather than unknown third-party websites.
Do not share your OTP, ATM PIN, UPI PIN, internet banking password or other confidential banking information with anyone.
If someone asks you to pay money to “release” the ₹18,000 benefit, verify the information with your nearest government health centre before making any payment.
Official Application Link
PICME – Government of Tamil Nadu
Official Website:
https://picme3.tn.gov.in/
The official PICME portal currently provides access to the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme / PMMVY Application Form.
PICME Helpdesk
Phone: 044-22280920
Mobile: +91 9489048910
These contact details are displayed on the official PICME website.
Final Words
The Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme 2026 is a genuine Tamil Nadu Government maternity welfare scheme.
Eligible pregnant women can receive benefits worth ₹18,000, subject to the government’s eligibility conditions.
Women who want to apply should complete the required pregnancy/PICME registration and use the official government portal for the application process.
Official PICME Website:
https://picme3.tn.gov.in/
Always check the latest eligibility rules and application requirements on the official government portal before submitting your application.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Government scheme rules, eligibility criteria, payment procedures and application processes may change. Please verify the latest information through the official Government of Tamil Nadu/PICME portal or your nearest government health facility before applying.
