Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Sanjay Gandhi today launched Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) and Guidelines for its Implementation at a function in New Delhi. <br/><br/>Mrs. Gandhi also launched National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Training, Integrated Child Development Services Training Modules and E-Training Manual for Anganwadi Workers. <br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, the core motive of the scheme is to benefit the pregnant women. PMMVY is effective from 1st January this year and the pregnant women are eligible for benefits under the scheme. She said that Ministry should make sure that the money sent for pregnant women is spent for their nutrition. <br/><br/>She added that disbursement of the funds will be on weekly basis. Talking on the current pre-school education scenario, she said that for the first time, after Independence, Ministry has made norms for pre-school teaching where Anganwadi workers will be given special training on how to teach children at basic level. She said, pre-school teaching should be so good that it could lay the foundation of the children effectively for future.<br/><br/>She urged every state education board and NCERT to print Child Helpline number and SHe- box's guidelines to prevent sexual harassment, at the back of the text and exercise books of the school children. UNICEF and Ambedkar University are the joint partners with the Ministry for this initiative.