A CORRESPONDENT
LAKHIMPUR: Synchronizing with the initiative taken by the State Government, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) week was inaugurated in Lakhimpur on Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner of the district, Dr. Jeevan B formally inaugurated this aspiring flagship scheme undertaken by the Union Government in a ceremonial programme held at the District Social Welfare office. Notably, the scheme as a maternity benefits programme is set to cover 650 districts across the nation in order to reduce the infant mortality rate. The scaling up of the scheme to cover 650 districts of the nation was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 2017 New Year’s eve speech. The announcement assumes significance as India accounts for 17per cent of all maternal deaths in the world. The country’s maternal mortality rate is pegged at 130 per 100,000 live births, whereas infant mortality is estimated at 43 per 1,000 live births. Among the primary causes of high maternal and infant mortality are poor nutrition and inadequate medical care during pregnancy and childbirth.
Participating as a chief guest in the inaugural event of the week-long ventures, Dr. Jeevan B laid stress on the successful implementation of the scheme. While delivering his speech, he suggested all concerned to ensure the child’s delivery in the government hospitals so that the newborn baby gets adequate medical care.
District Social Welfare Officer Santanu Kumar Bhagawati explained the benefits of the scheme. “It is a conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women of 19 years of age or above for the first live birth. It provides partial wage compensation to women for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare and to provide conditions for safe delivery and good nutrition and feeding practices. The pregnant women will get Rs 5000 in three installments as maternity benefit under the scheme,” he stated.
Attending the programme, health officer Dr. Jagadish Goswami also spoke on the occasion. Child Development Project Officers of Telahi, Lakhimpur, Naoboicha, Bihpuriya development blocks, supervisors, statistical assistants, officers of the Child Protection Unit along with other employees of the department concerned were present in the programme.
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