Under Pradhan Mantri MatruVandana Yojna (PMMVY), a maternity benefit scheme being implemented by Department of Social Security & Development of Women & Children, financial assistance of Rs. 55,82,000 has been provided to as many as 2,074 women beneficiaries. The financial aid of Rs. 5000 is being given to pregnant women for the delivery of the first child under PMMVY.Divulging the details about the health program, Deputy Commissioner Dharam Pal Gupta informed that to avail the benefit under this scheme, pregnant women have to register themselves at nearby Anganwari centers 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. He added that they have also directed the department officials to make the pregnant women aware about balanced diet and other factors concerned as Punjab Government had also launched ‘Tandarust Punjab’ Mission to improve health standards of the residents of the state.
Mr. Gupta informed that the financial assistance would be given in three installments and first-time expecting registered mother will receive Rs 1,000 after registration of pregnancy as the first installment, 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.He added that those women who have delivered their first child after January 1, 2017, could also avail the benefit of the flagship scheme. He said that the beneficiaries should have personal bank account and the benefit under the scheme will be given to pregnant women for the delivery of the first child only.DC also disclosed that this benefit would be different from other monetary support by any government department being given to expecting mothers.