Guwahati, Sep 22 (IANS): The Assam government's health department has suspended a nurse for embezzling funds from a scheme meant for pregnant women, officials said on Tuesday.

Lily Begum Sarkar, 51, faked 85 pregnancies and embezzled around Rs 42,500 under the scheme, which gives Rs 500 each to women for their delivery to promote safer childbirth.

"Sarkar, a nurse at government hospital in Karimganj (in southern Assam adjacent to northern Tripura), recorded 160 deliveries in past six months at the hospital. Of the 160, she listed herself as the mother in 85 deliveries and pocketed Rs 42,500 misusing the scheme," Sarfaraz Haque, a senior health official said.

He said that following an inspection, the nurse was suspended last week.

Though Sarkar has apologised, she said she resorted to this because of the "tremendous pressure at the rural hospital" on nurses like her.

She also blamed the Assam government for not paying adequate salaries to nurses in the government-run hospitals.

The authorities are yet to register any case with the police against the nurse.