evidence: The number of beneficiaries who enrolled for the maternity benefit programme, called Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), exceeded the government's target of 51.7 lakh per year in each of the last three years, Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani told Parliament on Wednesday. "The total number of beneficiaries enrolled during each of the last three financial years under the PMMVY is more than the indicative target," the Minister said in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question from Trinamool Congress member Sushmita Dev. [...] The PMMVY scheme was estimated to cover 51.70 lakh beneficiaries annually, Ms. Irani said, adding that it was only an "indicative" target.