Cash incentive for pregnant women: Sultanpur,Mahoba figure in scheme

This is the first time that such a cash-based incentive scheme has been launched for pregnant women.

“The idea is to give cash incentive to ensure that a pregnant women is registered with the Anganwadi centre and gets good nutrition during her pregnancy and till the first six months when her child is solely dependent on breastfeeding,” said an Union ministry official.

The scheme will be implemented through the Integrated Child Development Scheme. Anganwadi workers will work as resource persons,who will manage the scheme.

The cash incentive will be provided in three installments to the women. The first installment of Rs 1,500 will be given when a woman gets herself registered with her nearest Anganwadi worker on the beginning of her fourth month of pregnancy.

While the second installment of Rs 1,500 will be paid three months after delivery,the last installment of Rs 1,000 will be given when the child is six-month-old.

The Anganwadi workers will be given an honorarium of Rs 200 and Rs 100 to the Anganwadi sahayak.

“This scheme will certainly increase the registration of pregnant women in rural areas and also,give them cash for nutritional support. We are ready to start this scheme in our pilot districts,” said Principal Secretary (Women and Child Development) Balvinder Kumar.