Rs 3.25-cr grant for expecting mothers in Barnala

Tribune News Service

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Barnala, December 24

Under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a maternity benefit scheme being implemented by the Department of Social Security & Development of Women & Children, Punjab, financial assistance of Rs 3.25 crore has been provided to expecting mothers in Barnala district.

As per information, a financial aid of Rs 5,000 is given to pregnant women for the delivery of the first child under PMMVY. To avail the benefit under the scheme, pregnant women have to register themselves at nearby anganwari centres or at the office of Child Development and Project Officer within 150 days of Last Menstrual Period (LMP) date and have to procure Mother-Child Health Card.

Barnala Deputy Commissioner Tej Partap Singh Phoolka has formed special teams of officers concerned to spread awareness about scheme.

“Apart from spreading awareness about this scheme, we have also directed department officials to make the pregnant women aware of a balanced diet and other factors concerned with health under the Punjab Tandarust Mission,” said the DC.

District Programme Officer (DPO) Kulwinder Singh informed that financial assistance would be given in three instalments and first-time expecting registered mothers will receive Rs 1,000 after registration of pregnancy as the first instalment, Rs 2,000 after one antenatal check-up following six months of pregnancy and Rs 2,000 after the childbirth is registered and has received the first cycle of vaccination.

The DPO further informed that those women who had delivered their first child after January 1, 2017, could avail of the benefit of the scheme.

“The beneficiaries should have a personal bank account and the benefit under the scheme will be given to pregnant women for the delivery of the first child only. This benefit would be different from other monetary support by any government department being given to expecting mothers,” he said.