TN to give financial aid to pregnant mothers

The pregnant mothers who come under BPL (Below Poverty Line) category would be given monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 for six months, before three months and after three months of the childbirth.

During the last DMK regime it was Rs 1,000 per month and now the Jayalalithaa's government has increased it two fold. The government doles out this assistance to keep pregnant mothers healthy and encourage them to bring their new born baby for vaccination as major vaccinations are administered in the first three months.

This six months aid will bring down mortality rate of mother and child during childbirth. The scheme expected to be implemented from this budget session.

The Tamil Nadu government provides free vaccinations against polio, tetanus, diphtheria, chickenpox and tuberculosis for infants. In Tamil Nadu, the UNICEF has said in its report that since 2008 there is 20 per cent decline in vaccination among infants. This new scheme may help to stop this decline and encourage mothers to bring their child for vaccination without fail. Moreover, women under BPL are physically weak because of malnutrition and it affects the health of their child and this financial aid will make the pregnant mothers to afford nutritious food.

Porkai Pandian, a doctor and Secretary of Health Department said, "Pregnant mothers will be given Rs 12,000 under this scheme. A pregnant mother who come under BPL will be given a smart card that contains all details of her medical condition."

The financial assistance will be given in three stages: 1. First Rs 4,000 will be transferred to her bank account once she registers her name under the scheme and can use this money to take nutritious food. 2. Another Rs 4,000 will be given during childbirth. 3. The remaining Rs 4,000 will be given three months after childbirth to ensure that mothers bring her child for vaccinations without fail.

The main aim of this scheme is to bring down mortality rate of mother and child during and after child birth.