Lok Sabha Question No. 3941 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: Payment of Salary to ICDS staff
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3941

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2021

## PAYMENT OF SALARY TO ICDS STAFF

## 3941.  SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM :

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  staff  and  key  functionaries  employed  under  Integrated  Child Development Services, Integrated Child Protection Scheme and Women Shakti Kendras across the country are being paid nominal salaries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and
- (c) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  the  payment  of  salary  is commensurate with level of work performed by them?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (c): Anganwadi Services under Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme envisages Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) & Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) as  'honorary  workers'  from  the  local  community  who  come  forward  to  render  their services,  on  part  time  basis,  in  the  area  of  child  care  and  development   and  being honorary workers are not covered under the Minimum Wages Act.

The  AWWs  and  AWHs  are  paid  fixed  honorarium  per  month  as  decided  by  the Government from time to time. Lastly, on 01.10.2018, the honorarium was enhanced to AWWs from ₹ 3,000/- to ₹ 4,500/- per month; AWWs at mini-AWCs from ₹ 2,250/- to ₹ 3,500/-  per  month;  AWHs  from  ₹  1,500/-  to  ₹  2,250/-  per  month;  and  introduced performance  linked  incentive  of  ₹  250/-  per  month  to  AWHs.  In  addition  to  the honorarium paid by the Government of India, the respective States/UTs are also giving monetary incentives to these workers out of their own resources for additional duties assigned to them under other Schemes.

The  Ministry  through  various  platforms  such  as  review  meetings,  video  conferences, communications etc has taken up the matter with the States/UTs for timely payment of honorarium to Anganwadi Workers/Anganwadi Helpers.

The  Ministry  of  Women  &  Child  Development  implements  a  centrally  sponsored scheme,  named  Child  Protection Services (CPS)  scheme  (erstwhile ICPS), for rehabilitation  and  reintegration  of  children  in  difficult  circumstances  in  the  country  as envisaged  under  Juvenile  Justice  (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2015.  The primary responsibility of execution of the Act and implementation of the Scheme rests with the States/UTs. Presently, the scheme is being implemented as per the Cabinet approved CPS guidelines and the Central Government is providing the central share of staff salary/honorarium as per scheme guidelines. The Scheme provides for the hiring of contractual staff at the State and District level.

Under Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme, which is Centrally Sponsored Scheme, there are provisions for engaging following contractual manpower in each State/ Union Territory with specified honorarium in State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) and in District Level Centre for Women (DLCW) :-

| State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW)   | State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW)   | State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW)   |
|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Name of Post                             | No. of Post                              | Pay per month (Rs.)                      |
| State Project Coordinator                | 1                                        | 52,500                                   |
| Specialist Gender                        | 1                                        | 36,750                                   |
| Research Officer                         | 1                                        | 26,250                                   |
| Training and Research Officer            | 1                                        | 26,250                                   |
| Assistant                                | 1                                        | 15,750                                   |

| District Level Centre for Women (DLCW)   | District Level Centre for Women (DLCW)   | District Level Centre for Women (DLCW)   |
|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Name of Post                             | No of Post                               | Pay per month                            |
| Women Welfare Officer                    | 1                                        | 35,000                                   |
| District Coordinator                     | 2                                        | 20.000                                   |

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