The central scheme to provide cash incentive to pregnant and lactating women will be extended all over the country after assessing results of the pilot project in 52 districts. This was stated by Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath in the Rajya Sabha today during Question Hour.

She said under the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana , implemented since 2010 on a pilot basis, the Centre provides each pregnant and lactating woman a cash incentive of 4 thousand rupees in three installments.

She said so far 1 lakh 88 thousand beneficiaries have been covered under the scheme and out of 411 crore 78 lakh rupees released during 2010-11 and 2011-12, the state governments have reported fund utilisation of 71 crore 53 lakh rupees.