Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that launching of Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana is an important step taken by the state government towards women empowerment. “If a pregnant woman gets adequate nutrition, then the baby will also be born healthy. This imperative scheme of the state government will not only reducen malnutrition in mothers and children, but will also increase awareness amongst the people in regard to the importance of mother’s health and her nutrition level for proper development of children,” Gehlot said addressing an event while inaugurating Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana (IGMPY) through a video conference, on Thursday, on the occasion of birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“This scheme was announced in the state budget on March 13 this year. Presently, it has been started in four most backward TSP districts of the state i.e. Udaipur, Banswara, Dungarpur and Pratapgarh, based on the rankings of Mother & Child Nutrition indicators. The state government will implement this scheme in the whole of Rajasthan including Saharia-dominated Baran district,” Gehlot said while adding that he would demand Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through a letter, to implement this scheme in the entire country.
He thanked UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for suggesting this scheme and said that the food security in the country was ensured through a law during the UPA regime. On the occasion minister for Women & Child Development Mamta Bhupesh said that the objective of the IGMPY was to improve the nutrition level of pregnant women and lactating mothers and children upto the age of 3 years. “On birth of the second child, the beneficiary woman will be given Rs6000 directly in her bank account in five instalments.
First instalment of Rs 1000 will be given after the pregnancy test and registration; second instalment of Rs 1000 after completion of minimum two ante-natal check-ups;third instalment of Rs 1000 on institutional delivery; fourth instalment of Rs 2000 after getting all the regular vaccines administered to the newborn within 105 days of birth and after the birth registration of the child and the fifth and last instalment of Rs 1000 will be given on the couple adopting a means of family planning within three months after birth.
This way, this scheme would also encourage family planning,” Bhupesh said. The minister also read out the congratulatory message by the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. “CM Ashok Gehlot has implemented this scheme after receiving the suggestions from Soniaji in regard to providing nutrition to pregnant women for birth of second child, lactating mothers and children. At present, the entire amount on this scheme is being spent by the state government,” she said. Departments of Medical & Health and Mines & Geology will work with the Woman & Child Development dept for this scheme. More than 77,000 women will be benefitted every year