Bhubaneswar: With a view to ensuring proper healthcare of pregnant and lactating women belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) and their infants, the state government has relaxed norms for them to avail the benefits of Mamata scheme.
In Odisha, Mamata benefits have been extended to all pregnant women of PVTG communities for any number of live births. The provision, which was in vogue since 2014, has now been further extended for another five years, said an official from Women and Child Development department here Tuesday.
In 2018, the state government had allowed the benefits to all pregnant women of PVTG communities irrespective of whether or not they were residing in micro-project areas.
Mamata is a flagship conditional cash transfer maternity benefit scheme of the state was launched in September 2011.
The pregnant and lactating women of 19 years of age or above for their first two live births, except all government/public sector undertakings (central and state) employees and their wives, will be eligible to get benefits under the scheme.
The women are entities to receive Rs 5,000 in two tranches covering various stages of their pregnancy upon fulfilling certain conditions which are beneficial for their health and nutrition as well as their babies.
Mamata scheme has already reached more than 38.89 lakh pregnant and lactating women and more than Rs 1,810 crore has been transferred to their bank accounts successfully till date.