CHANDIGARH: Forms are being filled in the Anganwadi Centres of the state to provide financial assistance of Rs. 5, 000 and Rs. 6, 000 to female beneficiaries on the birth of their first child, whether a boy or girl and the second child, if a girl. This was disclosed by Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur here today.
Divulging more, Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government has set a target of filling out the forms for 98, 036 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana in the current financial year. She mentioned that each district has been assigned a target based on the Anganwadi Centres under them, which must be completed by the end of this financial year.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further added that Sri Muktsar Sahib had achieved the target for filling 3, 212 forms 4 months ago and become the leading district in Punjab by filling out 3, 257 forms. Similarly, district Fazilka, with a target of 3, 836 forms, secured the second position in the state by filling out 3, 856 forms.
The minister instructed the officials that other districts should also aim to fill out more forms than the target so that eligible beneficiary women can receive maximum benefits under this scheme. She appealed to eligible women beneficiaries to visit the Anganwadi Centres of the state and fill out the forms.
She further said that efforts are being made by the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Singh Mann, to improve the nutrition and health status of pregnant women and lactating mothers.