Imphal: Manipur's social welfare and cooperation minister Nemcha Kipgen on Saturday launched the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, a maternity benefit scheme for pregnant women and lactating mothers, through direct benefit transfer (DBT).

Ninety per cent of the scheme will be sponsored by the Centre while the state will bear the rest of the cost.

The DBT for this scheme will be operational through the public financial management system, a web-based online software application developed and implemented by the office of the controller-general of accounts.

Nemcha said the scheme aims at efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability in administration. It aims to timely transfer benefits to citizens through DBT. The funds will directly reach the real beneficiaries through their bank accounts electronically.

The minister said the tiers involved in funds flow will be minimised, delay in payment to the beneficiaries will be reduced and misappropriation of funds will be checked.

She also said that under the programme, a beneficiary will get Rs 5,000 in three instalments - Rs 1,000 in the first instalment after first antenatal check-up when pregnancy is registered, Rs 2,000 in the second instalment in last trimester and Rs 2,000 in the third instalment.

The programme is restricted to first pregnancy.

The minister announced that DBT will soon be implemented for various schemes, including old-age pension, and appealed to the media to take a leading role in generating awareness regarding various schemes launched by the state government.