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Mizoram central Serchhip district has been awarded for being the best performing district in the country in implementing Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).

Serchhip district deputy commissioner Dr Lalzirmawia Chhangte received the award from union women and child development minister Smriti Zubin Irani at a function held in New Delhi on Monday, an official statement said on Monday.

Established in 1998 by carving out of the larger Aizawl district, Serchhip district  is one of the eleven districts of Mizoram.

Also read: Manipur bags PMMVY award

Its district headquarter- Serchhip is located about 91 km south of the state capital Aizawl.

Official sources said that at least 1,812 registered beneficiaries were given financial assistance amounting to Rs 77.66 lakh under the PMMVY scheme in Serchhip district since the scheme was launched in 2017.

According to 2011 census, Serchhip district has the highest literacy rate among districts in the country.

Meanwhile, Mizoram social welfare minister Dr K Beichhua has congratulated the people of Serchhip district for winning first position in best performing district in the country.

He also praised the district administration and state Women & Child Development department for their outstanding work in successfully implementing the Centre scheme.

“I am very excited for Serchhip district being selected as the best performing district in the country,” he said.

“As a concern department I extended my heartfelt thanks to the district administration and officials and congratulate the people for the honour,” he added.

He said that Serchhip district has set an example for other districts in Mizoram as well as the country in implementing the PMMVY scheme.

Beichhua also urged other district in the state to walk in the line of Serchhip and have healthy competition in implementing the maternity benefit program.

He said that the scheme has been successfully implemented across the state.

The PMMVY is a maternity benefit introduced by the Centre in 2016 and implemented across the country in January 2017.

Under this scheme young pregnant women, who give the first live birth, are given a wage compensation of Rs 5,000 for wage-loss during childbirth and for childcare and safe delivery.

The incentive is deposition to the beneficiary’s account in three installments.