IEP Chandigarh, June 28
Honorarium of Rs 8.2 crore of anganwadi workers and helpers will be released soon for covering the maximum beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. This was stated by the Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr. Baljit Kaur.Divulding the details, the Minister said that the government is continuously making efforts for the welfare of women especially pregnant women and lactating mothers.The Minister said that under fresh guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, payment of Rs.5000 in two installments (Rs.3000+2000) provided to pregnant women on the birth of their first live child.Giving more information, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that in all 27314 Anganwadi Centers of the state, an amount of Rs. 5000 is transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries after filling the forms of beneficiaries by anganwadi workers and helpers.To encourage anganwadi workers and helpers and provide maximum benefit of the scheme to eligible beneficiaries, an honorarium of Rs.100 per beneficiary to anganwadi workers and Rs.50 per beneficiary to anganwadi helpers.She said that three installments have been released to about 5,48,824 beneficiaries by the Punjab government and an honorarium of about Rs.8.2 crore will be distributed soon.Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur expressed hope that this honorarium will serve as a motivation for Anganwadi workers and helpers to assist eligible beneficiaries under this scheme. She further stated that the Punjab government was led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to the welfare of women in the state.