The deputy Commissioner Varinder Sharma on Thursday asked the officials to carry out vigorous awareness drive in urban and rural areas to make the women aware about Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna (PMMVY), a maternity benefit scheme.Divulging the details about the health program, Deputy Commissioner said that Under this scheme, a financial assistance of Rs 5000 would be given to pregnant women for the delivery of the first child. He informed that pregnant women have to register themselves at nearby Anganwari centers within 150 days of Last Menstrual Period (LMP) date and have to procure Mother-Child Health Card.He said that the financial assistance would be given in three installments. The expecting mother will receive Rs 1,000 after registration of pregnancy as the first installment, Rs 2,000 after one ante-natal check-up following six months of pregnancy and Rs 2,000 after the childbirth is registered and has received the first cycle of vaccination.
"Those women, who have delivered their first child after January 1, 2017, could also avail the benefit of the flagship scheme", he said and added that the beneficiaries should have their personal bank accounts. He also disclosed that this benefit would be additional from other monetary support offered by any government department. Mr Sharma said that to enrol maximum pregnant women as beneficiaries in the scheme, Village Health Sanitation, and Nutrition Committees must be asked for holding meetings to create the awareness at the ground level.The Deputy Commissioner also asked the health officials to give the details of pregnant mothers to district program office for providing benefits to the expectant mothers.On the occasion, ADC Mr. Jasbir Singh, Assistant Commissioner Mr. Jai Inder Singh, Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Kumar Bagga, Medical Superintendent Dr Jasmeet Kaur Bawa, DDPO Mr. Ajay Kumar, District Immunization Officer Dr Tarsem Singh, District Family and Welfare Officer Dr Surinder Kumar, District Program Officer Mr. Narinder Singh Khalil, Dr Harpreet Mann, Dr Satish Kumar, Dr Shobhna, District Mass Media Officer Mr Kirpal Singh Jhalli and others were present.