Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards improving maternal health and encouraging the birth of girl children, the Odisha government has launched an integrated scheme, merging the existing Mamata scheme with the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY). Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the initiative on Tuesday, reinforcing the state’s commitment to maternal and child welfare.
Under the newly integrated scheme, financial assistance of Rs 10,000 will be provided to women for the birth of a baby boy. However, in a move to promote the birth of female children, the financial aid for a girl child has been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000. This assistance will be available for a maximum of two children, though in the case of twins, the two-child limit will not be applied.
The initiative also extends support to Anganwadi workers, increasing their incentives from Rs 200 to Rs 250, while Anganwadi helpers will now receive Rs 150, up from the previous Rs 50. These enhancements aim to strengthen grassroots healthcare services and improve maternal and child nutrition.
The Odisha government has allocated Rs 511 crore for the scheme’s implementation, with the central government contributing Rs 115.97 crore. The initiative is expected to benefit around 4.5 lakh pregnant women and new mothers across the state, furthering efforts to enhance maternal and child healthcare.
