BIRENDRANAGAR: The ‘maternity nutrition package programme’ announced by Karnali State Ministry of Social Development has come into effect from this month. Under the programme, expecting mothers who deliver their child at health facilities in Karnali Province will be entitled to receive Rs 2,000 each for nutrition.

With the programme in effect, the mothers will receive a total amount of Rs 4,800. Earlier, a new mother used to get Rs 2,000 as travel allowance and Rs 800 for four antenatal check-ups.

According to Chetan Nidhi Wagle, Chief of Public Health Office, Surkhet, women belonging to marginalised groups are entitled to get nutrition amount of Rs 2,000 only in the state hospital. However, the package is applicable for those delivering child in other health facilities as well.

The programme was designed to incentivise expecting mothers to deliver their child at health facilities, said Dal Rawal, Karnali Province Minister for Social Development. "It is to provide relief to women from maginalised communities in Karnali and help promote safe motherhood," he added.

The ministry had allocated a budget of Rs 40 million for the nutrition package in the current fiscal year.