PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar formally launched an ambitious project aimed at improving condition of mothers and newborns in the state.

The scheme christened as 'Mamta' would take care of mothers and babies for which trained midwives, to be posted at hospitals and sub-divisional health centers, would be paid Rs 75 per day, Kumar said, while addressing a gathering after launching the scheme at S K Memorial Hall here.

He said the round the clock presence of midwives in government hospitals was expected to attract pregnant women, particularly in rural areas, to go for institutional delivery.

Besides, the scheme aims to raise awareness about breast feeding, immunization and encourage mothers to take recourse to family planning methods, Kumar said.

The scheme was being funded by the state government and different executing agencies under the National Rural Health Mission, state health department sources said.