More than one lakh pregnant women and lactating mothers in Punjab have benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).
The Social Security and Women and Child Development Minister, Aruna Chaudhary on Monday said owing to the awareness campaign being run by the Punjab government, desirous results have started trickling in.
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“Till 31 July, 1,06,709 eligible beneficiaries have availed the benefit under the scheme and an amount of Rs 27.10 crore has been credited directly into their bank accounts through online mode,” Chaudhary said.
The minister further said that the department is waging an awareness campaign to ensure that maximum beneficiaries avail the benefits entailed under the scheme.
She exhorted pregnant women and lactating mothers to contact the anganwadi worker at their nearest centres in order to derive maximum benefit.
Apart from this, the helpline numbers of the department 0172-2608746 and 70872- 23325 can also be contacted, Chaudhary added.
Under the scheme, pregnant woman and lactating mother apart from regular government employees are entitled to receive Rs 5,000 and the remaining cash incentive of Rs 1,000 for maternity benefit is given under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) after institutional delivery.
The scheme aims at providing partial compensation for wage loss in terms of cash incentives so that the woman can take adequate rest before and after delivery of the first living child.
Chaudhary said under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs 5,000 is provided in three installments to the pregnant women and the breast feeding women on the birth of their first child.