Panaji, Aug 29 (TOI): Keeping up to his promise of modifying the Mamata scheme in the Budget 2015-16 speech, chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday explained that under the modified scheme, the cash benefit will be enhanced from the earlier 5,000 to 25,000 in various stages.

Under the modified scheme, financial incentives of 5,000 will be disbursed at five different stages of the girl's life - at birth, on full immunization, on completion of SSCE, on completion of HSSCE and on completion of college degree. If the girl does not complete her degree, then the final installment will not be paid.

The scheme, run by the department of women and child development, was formulated by the government in 2011, whereby an incentive of 5,000 was given to the mother for a maximum of two deliveries so that the sex ratio is maintained and the post-delivery nutritional requirements of the mother and child are taken care of.

The money will be paid to the mother through an electronic clearance system. The mother must be a resident of Goa for at least three years or married to a resident of Goa. Appropriate documents must be submitted while applying for the scheme.

The cabinet on Friday approved the 'financial incentives to mothers who deliver a girl child scheme' by amending the Mamta scheme to address the declining sex ratio of the girl child and other issues of gender inequality.