DAILEKH, Aug 10: New mothers of Mahabu Rural Municipality, Dailekh, have been deprived of maternity allowances since the last nine months although the rural municipality had announced to provide the allowance. 

Altogether 250 new mothers from the rural municipality have been deprived of allowances as the rural maternal department is receiving limited government budget. Ramesh Dashaundi, chairman of the Health Department at the rural municipality, complained that the Family Heath Division under the federal government has not released adequate fund for nursing mothers. 

Presently, there is a provision to promote safe motherhood program under which each new mother gets Rs 2,000 and additional Rs 800 for meeting the criteria set for visiting a health centre for pregnancy check-ups for up to four times. 

The department has demanded Rs 614,000 as the allowance for nursing mothers. 
Health practitioners say that the mothers and their families have been facing problem of visiting the health posts to claim the allowance money.

Five health posts of Mahabu Rural Municipality have been providing maternal services to pregnant women.

Jung Bahadur Shahi, Chairman of the rural municipality, said they have been unable to distribute the allowance because they haven't received the budget. 

“We have demanded for the allowance. The money will be distributed to the new mothers on their doorsteps before Dashain,” said Shahi

 
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