The Mukhya Mantri Sukanya Yojana, which was launched in Latehar on Monday, witnessed the distribution of over Rs 2 crore among 4,181 beneficiaries of the scheme at a simple yet impressive function attended by chief minister Raghubar Das.

The scheme aims at providing Rs 40,000 in financial aid to girls from birth till they turn 18 for their social and economic development.

Secretary in the state social welfare department Amitabh Kaushal, who was present at the event held in a Latehar stadium, about 62km from Daltonganj, said over phone that the 4,181 beneficiaries belonged to poor families identified in the 2011 socio-economic and caste census and those holding Antodaya cards.

Kaushal said under the scheme, Rs 5,000 was given to mother of a girl child till the baby turns two.

Thereafter, the cash gets directly transferred to the bank account of the girl child in seven instalments till she turns 18. “Sukanya Yojana is for girls of all faith, creed and religion,” chief minister Das said to a gathering of around 1,000 in his 35-minute speech.

At the event, the CM also spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concern for the peasants and the Mukhyamantri Krishi Aashirwad Yojana under which farmers will receive Rs 5,000 per acre per year along with a bonus of Rs 150 over the minimum support price (MSP).

The CM praised the joint efforts of Latehar district police and the CRPF in curbing Naxalism in the area.

“The government is planning to make available piped water in villages here so that women and girls do not have to walk down to rivers and ponds to collect drinking water,” he said. Das said his government was pulling out all stops to make Adivasis and Dalits economically strong.

He also spoke at length about Ayushman Bharat, rural connectivity and electricity to every house.