The Social Security and Women & Child Development Department, Punjab, has appealed to the people of the State to avail maximum benefit from the 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna'.Disclosing this here today, an official spokesman said that the scheme has been implemented throughout the State. Under the scheme, the Social Security and Women & Child Development Department provides a total of Rs. 5000 in 3 instalments (Respectively Rs. 1000, Rs. 2000 and Rs. 2000) to the pregnant women at the time of the birth of their first child. The spokesman further divulged that from 28th December, 2017 till 10th January, 2018 a total of 16,000 beneficiaries have been registered in Punjab under the scheme. Out of these, 3924 beneficiaries have been paid Rs. 63,61,000 through their bank accounts.The spokesman also said that for availing maximum benefit of the scheme, the anganwadi workers at the nearest anganwadi centres can be contacted.