Jaipur, Oct. 4 -- Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday transferred over Rs.150 crore to more than 27,000 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) and Rs.8.79 crore to 29,222 beneficiaries under the Chief Minister's Maternity Nutrition Scheme through direct benefit transfer (DBT) at the Nari Shakti Sammelan and Dialogue programme in Jaipur. At the programme held at University Commerce College, Sharma also flagged off 60 ambulances, nine articulating water towers and 185 auto-tippers. He handed over house keys to rural housing beneficiaries and scooter keys to women associated with self-help groups under the Lakhpati Didi initiative. The financial assistance included Rs.25 crore to 3,274 Lakhpati Didis under the Chief Minister's Lakhpati Didi Loan Scheme through Rajasthan Mahila Nidhi and Rs.93 crore to 2,823 self-help groups under the Financial Inclusion Scheme. Another 3,300 self-help groups received livelihood enhancement grants totalling Rs.25 crore. Sharma presented symbolic cheques to women representing the groups. Highlighting the reach of the Lakhpati Didi initiative, Sharma said more than 26 lakh women had been trained under the scheme, of whom approximately 20 lakh had been brought into the Lakhpati Didi category. "The commitment, hard work and collective strength of women will make Rajasthan a self-reliant and economically prosperous state," Sharma said, adding that their participation would drive the vision of a developed India and Rajasthan by 2047. On assistance for pregnant women, he said, "The amount under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana has been increased from Rs.5,000 to Rs.6,500." He said 5.74 lakh coupons had been issued for sonography under the Maa Voucher Scheme, while eligible families were being provided cooking gas cylinders for Rs.450. Sharma said 13.85 lakh bicycles and approximately 46,000 scooters had been distributed to promote girls' education under schemes including the Kalibai Higher Education Scooty Scheme and the Devnarayan Chhatra Scooty Scheme. "Under the Chief Minister's Single Women's Honour Pension Scheme, pension amounts of Rs.8,866 crore have been disbursed to approximately 19 lakh pensioners," he said. He added that savings bonds worth Rs.1.5 lakh were being provided to poor families upon the birth of a girl child under the Lado Incentive Scheme. Sharma said the honorarium of Anganwadi workers, assistants, creche workers and companions had been increased by 10% annually over the past three years. He added that 1.22 crore women and girls were being provided 12 sanitary napkins free every month. "Women are not only an integral part of society but also the foundation of family, society and nation-building. Respect and empowerment of women are the hallmarks of any civilised society," Sharma said. Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with introducing initiatives to support women's education, health, livelihoods and leadership, Sharma cited Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujjwala, Mudra, Jal Jeevan Mission, the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Nari Shakti Vandan Act....