Bhopal, Jan 9 (NationPress) An informative session was conducted by the Anganwadi workers in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday, aiming to raise awareness among pregnant women regarding essential precautionary and safety practices associated with motherhood.

A significant number of pregnant women participated in the session where they were informed about the importance of maintaining healthy nutrition, undergoing regular health check-ups during pregnancy, and were also briefed about the financial assistance provided through the government scheme.

This awareness session took place at the Tendukheda government hospital under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).

The PMMVY is a premier centrally sponsored initiative from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, aimed at assisting pregnant women and nursing mothers, especially those from socially and economically marginalized groups, by providing maternity benefits.

The primary goal is to motivate pregnant women to receive financial support, enhanced nutrition, and timely health check-ups.

Check-ups are conducted on the 9th and 25th of each month to monitor their health and wellness.

During the counselling session, pregnant women were encouraged to eat a nutritious diet comprising of drumstick leaves, curry leaves, lemons, oranges, bananas, bottle gourd, spinach, chickpeas, fenugreek leaves, coriander, ivy gourd, beans, peas, and coarse grains like groundnuts, maize, pulses, and jaggery.

Anganwadi workers, who serve as a vital link between government initiatives and beneficiaries, also shared insights with IANS on how pregnant women are benefiting from this scheme.

Anganwadi worker Mishi Kumari Sahu stated, "On the 9th and 25th of each month, we invite pregnant women for health check-ups. We guide them on nutrition and recommend increasing their intake of nutritious foods and green vegetables for the healthy growth of their baby."

The Anganwadi workers visit local wards and villages to promote healthy habits among expectant mothers.

Sunita Jain, another Anganwadi worker, remarked, "Our focus is on pregnant women, nursing mothers, newborns, and children up to six years old. This includes vaccination, take-home rations (THR), nutrition, and food guidance. We advise mothers to send their children to Anganwadi centres, often reminding them that a healthy mother leads to a healthy child and vice-versa."

Yamuna Gaur, another Anganwadi worker, explained, "We face several challenges. Sometimes, women feel ashamed to admit their pregnancy. We often have to visit multiple times before they accept it. There are cases where they struggle to comprehend the information, so we suggest involving their mothers-in-law and husbands for support."

Under the PMMVY, maternity benefits are provided for the first two live births, provided the second child is a girl.

For the first child, a maternity benefit of Rs 5,000 is granted in two parts, and beneficiaries are also entitled to a cash incentive.

The second child qualifies for a benefit of Rs 6,000, contingent on it being a girl child.