BENGALURU: Mathrushree Scheme for pregnant women was launched as promised by the JD(S) in their manifesto. This scheme provides a total allowance of Rs 6,000— Rs 1,000 per month for three months before delivery and for three months after delivery to mothers of Below Poverty Line families. It will be implemented from November 1 and Rs 350 crore has been allocated towards it. The amount per month will be increased from Rs 1,000 in the next five years in a phased manner. This scheme is applicable only for the first two deliveries. The money will be directly transferred to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of the eligible expecting mothers.
Monthly pension for senior citizens under the present Sandhya Suraksha Project will be increased from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000 from November 1 benefitting a total of 32.92 lakh senior citizens. The monthly sum will be increased in a phased manner in the next five years, announced CM H D Kumaraswamy. An additional budget of Rs 660 crore will be provided for the project to the Revenue department that runs the scheme.
Benefits under the scheme can be availed by elderly persons earning up to Rs 20,000 per annum and not availing any other benefits like family pension, widow pension, physically handicapped pension and old age pension. The intended beneficiaries are small farmers, marginal farmers, agricultural labourers, weavers, fishermen, labourers from unorganised sectors (excluding building and other construction workers).
Existing maternity benefit schemes