State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki said the beneficiaries’ number of maternal allowance will be increased from 8 lakh to 9.5 lakh in the upcoming budget. She came up with the announcement while addressing a health camp inauguration programme at city’s Shishu Academy Auditorium recently , a handout said.
“The amount of maternal allowance will be increased from Tk 500 to Tk 800,” Chumki said.
She said about 90 percent development of children is occurred before the age of five and that is why mothers should take care of their children. The state minister urged mothers to spend the allowance money for them and their babies.
Women and Children Affairs secretary Nasima Begum and Director General of Women Affairs Department Kazi Rowshan Ara were, among others, present. The health camp has been introduced to provide healthcare services to mothers.
Earlier, maternity allowances were distributed among about 4,000 mothers in Dhaka North and South City Corporations.
