Having a bank account and an Aadhaar number is mandatory for getting benefits under the Bangaru Talli scheme. After the introduction of the scheme for girl-child on May 1 this year, 51,929 girls have been enrolled for benefits.
Under the scheme, which supports the family of a girl from her birth till her graduation, Rs 2,500 is given by the government immediately after the birth of a girl child. However, many mothers do not have bank accounts and are unable to receive the the first-instalment benefit. Considering their difficulty, the government decided on Friday to pay in cash directly to the new mothers.
Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy took a decision to this effect at a review meeting on the Bangaru Talli scheme here on Friday.
Speaking to reporters later, women and child welfare minister V Sunitha Laxma Reddy said that the first instalment would be paid directly to the mothers. The second instalment amount of Rs 2,500 for immunisation of the girl-child would be paid in the following year. But the mothers should have Aadhaar-linked bank accounts by then.
The minister said that there was no dearth of funds for Bangaru Talli. The chief minister directed the finance department to include the scheme under Green Channel so that funds would be released immediately. So far the government has released Rs 57.50 crore for the scheme.
NEW PENSIONS: The minister said that around 6.23 lakh new pensions would be sanctioned in the next Rachabanda programme. The dates of the third round of Rachabanda programme will be announced soon.
She said that of the 6.23 lakh new pensions sanctioned, 2.98 lakh were for the aged, 2.78 lakh for widows, 35,000 for disabled persons, 8,200 for weavers and 3,049 for toddy-tappers.
The chief minister also agreed to pay Rs 200 as monthly pension to 1.37 lakh disabled persons having 40 per cent or less disability.
The government will also launch a publicity campaign on Bangaru Talli to create awareness among rural women on how to enrol their names. After the third month of pregnancy, the mother should take a health card from the local ANM and enrol her name, the minister said.