Nearly 2 Lakh Pregnant Women in Coimbatore Benefit from ₹86.66 Cr Maternal Health Scheme

In a significant step towards improving child and maternal health, the Dr. Muthulakshmi Ready Maternity Benefit Scheme (Dr. MRMBS) has changed the lives of close to 1.9 lakh pregnant women in Coimbatore district in the past five years. Based on the Health Department statistics, this milestone program by the Tamil Nadu State Government has seen a total of Rs 86.66 crore paid to the deserving beneficiaries.

Lifeline for expectant mothers

Financial support and nutritional support blended into one, Dr. MRMBS program aims to deliver financial support as well as nutritional support to expecting mothers to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). Every deserving woman gets an aggregate benefit of ₹18,000, divided into ₹14,000 as cash and ₹4,000 worth of nutritional kits.

In addition to its overall impact, to maximize its influence, the scheme is also undertaken in conjunction with the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), adding more financial support during pregnancy and after.

Year-by-year impact: A snapshot

• 2020-21: 42,808 women benefited. ₹17.91 crore released.

• 2021–22: 37,175 women; ₹16.42 crore released.

• 2022–23: 38,908 women; ₹16.39 crore released.

• 2023–24: 41,837 women; Rs 17.95 crore released.

• 2024–25: 29,214 women (so far); Rs 17.97 crore released.

This stable financial coverage demonstrates the government's dedication to maternal health throughout the district.

Simpler distribution, and improved access.

The scheme will be streamlined by 2024, and cash benefits are now issued in three tranches rather than five. Pregnant women are given Rs 6,000 in the fourth month and the rest in the fourth and ninth months post-delivery.

Apart from this, nutrition kits, comprising basic supplements and food supplies, are provided in two stages: the third month and the sixth month of pregnancy.

Registration process: Registration at the earliest is important.

To avail of these benefits, women need to register their pregnancy within 12 weeks, either with local health workers or through the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) portal.

Health workers, particularly village and urban health nurses, have an important role in identifying and enrolling pregnant women under the scheme. They are responsible for monitoring maternal health very closely and making sure that no eligible woman is left out.

A model for maternal well-being

Dr. MRMBS is a shining example of promoting maternal and child health in Tamil Nadu. Through sustained outreach and better implementation, the scheme is not only giving aid monetarily but also assuring healthy pregnancies and bright beginnings for thousands of families.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)