Coimbatore:
Amma Maternity Nutrition Kits, which were to be distributed among pregnant women under the Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme from April,
are yet to reach the beneficiaries.
The enhanced benefits were applicable to all pregnant women from April 1, a city corporation official said. “Those who had delivered babies before January 1 are not eligible under the revised scheme. Until April, the government had disbursed Rs 12,000 in three instalments. The assistance under the scheme was enhanced to Rs 18,000 this year. Under it, a nutritious kit worth Rs 4,000 is provided.”
As many as 12 nutritious items, including dry fruits such as dates that are necessary for a healthy pregnancy, would be added in the kit. “The kits will be distributed twice – once at 12th week and for the second time between 16 and 20th week of pregnancy,” the official said.
From January, the civic body had distributed Rs 85 lakh to a total of 2,125 beneficiaries. About 250 women were assisted under the revised scheme. The corporation distributed over Rs 5.50 crore to the beneficiaries during the financial year 2017-18.
One of the main reasons for adding nutritious food kit to the scheme is that many women, who are below poverty line (BPL), are anaemic and are in need of healthy food to increase the iron content, said an anganwadi worker, who works with pregnant women. “Even though the government has been financially assisting them for years together, the women were found spending the money on household expenses or to clear debt, instead of utilizing it to improve their health,” she said.
In most cases, their husbands were in charge of maintaining the bank accounts and the women are left with no choice but to accept their husband’s decision, the worker added. “But the women are yet to receive the kits. Those who were in their initial stage of pregnancy has reached their final phase without enjoying the benefits,” she added.
Meanwhile, health department officials said that they will soon float a tender for the project.
