Centre to ensure safe delivery for would-be-moms

In an effort to ensure safe motherhood, the UPA Government is all set to provide financial assistance to pregnant women below the poverty li...

In an effort to ensure safe motherhood, the UPA Government is all set to provide financial assistance to pregnant women below the poverty line and promote institutional deliveries. The new initiatives under the scheme, Janani Suraksha Yojana (Safe Motherhood Scheme), aim to bring down the maternal mortality rate from the present 407 per 100,000 births to below 100 by 2010. The scheme also addresses another area of concern — the low percentage of births in health institutions, which is just 30 per cent of all deliveries in the country.

Under this scheme, the Government would extend financial assistance — Rs 1,000 for the birth of a girl and Rs 400 for a boy — for the first two live births to women in the target group. This would be besides the relief provided under the national social assistance programme that gives Rs 500 to would-be mothers above the age of 19 years from a BPL family. The benefits would be as follows:

• In weak performing states, mothers would receive an assistance of Rs 1,000 on the birth of a girl child and Rs 400 on the birth of a male child

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• In addition, transport allowance of Rs 150 would be given to pregnant women for travelling to health centres

• Rs 200 as compensation would be given to those who opt for permanent methods of contraception

• In case of complicated cases, a maximum aid of Rs 1,500 would be given

• Quick disbursal of the amount would be ensured through a health worker once the woman is discharged after delivery

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In order to promote institutional deliveries, the government would also train professional birth attendants in every village. Financial assistance for dais (midwives) has also been proposed to secure their active support. Under the new scheme, midwives would receive a token fee of Rs 75-Rs 200 in villages and Rs 50-Rs 150 in urban areas.

‘‘She would assist expectant mothers to receive ante-natal care, accompany her to the health center, provide post-natal care and assist in giving immunisation to the mother and child,’’ said an official of the Health Ministry.