Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 18 – In an ambitious plan that is projected to usher radical changes in the area of maternal and child care, the State government on Wednesday announced a Rs 180-crore twin-scheme that would ensure special care for the girl child after birth and of the mother since conception. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi launched Majoni, a special State assistance scheme for new-born girl-children at a function held here in the capital city. Under this scheme, a girl child born in a government hospital or in charitable hospitals will get a fixed deposit of Rs 5000 which could be en-cashed only by the child on attaining the age of 18. In keeping with the policy of the government, the child beneficiary should not be married before the age of 18. However a girl child born to a mother staying in a paying cabin or private hospital will not be eligible for the assistance.
The Majoni scheme launched under the Assam Bikash Yojana in Kamrup district today will be implemented in all the districts by March 28. It needs to be mentioned here that as of date, the girls count to 935 per 1000 boys in the State.
Gogoi said that the objective behind launching several schemes for the girl child was to provide equal footing to them in the society where the male child always got the first preference.
For this scheme, the government will bear the expenditure of Rs 100 crore every year. The first beneficiary of this scheme is Fahmida Akhtar born on February 1. Since February 1, a total of 225 girls were institutionally delivered in Kamrup district.
Gogoi presented the fixed deposit cheque certificates to mothers of 42 beneficiaries at the function and also released a book titled Mamoni. A same name scheme will be launched in February 28 that will ensure the care of the mothers since the time of conception. Would be mothers in rural areas will get a copy of the book and Rs 500 at the time of their first check up at a government hospital. They would get another amount of Rs 500 at the time of their second check up. For this scheme, the government will have to spend Rs 80 crore every year.
On the other hand, to encourage family planning, the government launched the Samridhir Babe Kisu Samay scheme in Kamrup district. This scheme is being implemented in Goalpara district. Under this scheme, couples choosing not to have children for two years will get an incentive of Rs 5000 and couples choosing not to have children for a period of three years will get Rs 7,500.
The function was attended by many government officials including health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. source: assam tribune
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