Pregnant women in the State will now receive a nutrition kit, the ‘Amma Maternity Nutrition Kit’ worth ₹4,000 which will contain an iron tonic and nutritional supplements. The kit will be given under the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme, under which pregnant women will receive cash assistance, according to a Budget announcement.
Last year, the assistance under this scheme was enhanced from ₹12,000 to ₹18,000, from which the kits worth ₹4,000 will be allotted, meaning the beneficiaries will receive cash assistance of ₹14,000, apart from the kits.
An expert committee is finalising the contents of the kit. The kits will be given in two parts — once at 12 weeks and the second time between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
