Lok Sabha Question No. 4104 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-04
Subject: National Awards to Anganwadi Workers
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, BHOLA SINGH, MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4104

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.01.2019

## NATIONAL AWARDS TO ANGANWADI WORKERS

4104. DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has formulated a scheme for awarding Anganwadi workers at National and State Level under the Centrally Sponsored Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, if so, the details thereof and the criteria fixed by the Government in this regard;
- (b) the details of the awards given to the Anganwadi workers during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has provided financial assistance to the States/UTs for such  awards and if so, the details thereof during the said period;
- (d) whether the Government has taken steps to improve the living standards of Anganwadi workers in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  working  condition  of  the  Anganwadi workers/helpers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMENT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

- (a) Yes, Madam. Government of India has formulated a scheme for awarding Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) at National Level and State Level in the year 2000-2001 under Anganwadi Services of Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.

The award at the National Level comprises of Rs. 50,000/- each and a citation and the award  at  the  State  level  carries  a  cash  aware  of  RS.10,000/-  and  a  citation.  National  level Awardees are selected by a National Level Selection Committee presided over by the Minister-incharge of Ministry of Women and Child Development on the basis of nominations received  from the    States/UTs.  The  State  Level  Awardees  are  selected  by  State  Level  Selection  Committee under the Chairpersonship of Secretary-in-charge of Women and Child Development. The State Level Award is given to Anganwadi Workers based on the performance in the respective year and  subsequently,  National  Level  Award  is  given  out  of  nomination  of  State  Awardees.  The award is  conferred  to  the  Anganwadi  Worker  in  the  subsequent  year.  The  criteria  evolved  for selection of awardees includes  overall assessment of the performance of Anganwadi Workers on  Education under the Anganwadi Services of Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)  Scheme,  contribution  of  the  Anganwadi  Workers  towards  convergence  with  other Departments/other  improving  the  coverage  and  quality  of  services  to  eligible  children  and Pregnant  Women  and  Lactating  Mothers  (PW  &  LM),  regular  reporting  for  Monthly  Progress Report and Annual Reports, enrolment of children in Supplementary Nutrition Programme and Pre-school Education under the ICDS Scheme, contribution of the Anganwadi Workers towards community participation, cleanliness & hygiene, innovations and experience.

- (b) The details of the awards given to the Anganwadi Workers during 2014-15, 2015-16 and 201617are placed at Annexure-I. The award to the year 2017-18 has been finalized for conferring to the selected AWWs.
- (c) The expenditure incurred by the State/UTs towards State level awards is borne by concerned States/UTs  out  of  the  funds  released  by  the  Central  Government  for  implementation  of Anganwadi  Services  of  Umbrella  Integrated  Child  Development  Services  (ICDS)  Scheme alongwith their State/UT share.
- (d) & (e): The Anganwadi Services (under Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme)  envisages  the  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.  Under  the  Anganwadi  Services,  the Government  of  India  enhanced  the  honorarium  with  effect  from  01.10.2018  for  Anganwadi Workers  (AWWs)  engaged  in  main-Anganwadi  Centres  (AWCs)  from  Rs.3,000/-  p.m.  to Rs.4,500/-  p.m. The honorarium of AWWs engaged in Mini-AWCs has further been enhanced from Rs. 2,250/-  p.m.  to  Rs.  3,500/-  p.m.  The  honorarium  of  Anganwadi  Helpers  (AWHs)  has been enhanced from the existing Rs. 1,500/-per month to Rs. 2.250/- p.m. They are also eligible for performance linked incentive of Rs. 250/- p.m.

Anganwadi  Workers  are  also  provided  incentive  of  Rs.500/-  p.m.  for  using  ICDS-CAS under  POSHAN Abhiyaan.  Apart  from  these,  additional  amount  of  honoraria  are  also  paid  by most of the State Governments / UT Administrations from their own resources. In addition, the following benefits are also extended to the AWWs/AWHs:

Uniform: A set of two uniform (Saree/Suit @Rs.400/- per saree per annum)

Leave: The Anganwadi Services under Umbrella ICDS Scheme provides 20 days annual leave to  AWWs/AWHs. In addition,  they  are  allowed  paid  absence  on  maternity  for  a  period  of  180 days for  a  maximum of  two occasions with less than two surviving children and 45 days paid absence on abortion/miscarriage on one occasion.

Female Critical Illness: Female critical illness benefits to AWWS/AWHs is Rs. 20,000/- {only on diagnosis of invasive cancers (malignant tumour) manifest in organs, viz., breast, cervix, corpus uteri, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vaginal/vulva}.

Promotion: Reservation  of  50%  of  vacant  posts  of  Supervisors  for  Anganwadi  Workers  in recruitment  and  also  25%  of  Anganwadi  Workers  from  Anganwadi  Helpers  in  promotion  after completion of 10 years of experience.

Scholarship: A  free  add-on  scholarship  benefits  is  available  for  the  children  of  AWWs  and AWHs. Scholarship  of  Rs.  300/-  per  quarter  for  students  of  9 th  to  12 th  Standard  (including  ITI courses) is available but it is limited to two children per family.

Insurance cover: Insurance cover under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) of Rs. 2.00 lakh and covers life risk, death due to any reason and under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima  Yojana  (PMSBY)  Rs.  2.00  lakh  for  accidental  death  &  permanent  full  disability;  and Rs.1.00lakh for partial but permanent disability these schemes applicable for those AWWs/AWHs who join Anganwadi services on or before 01.06.2017.

Anganwadi Karyakartri Bima Yojana (AKBY) is applicable to those AWWs/AWHs whose age group of 51-59 years as on 01.06.2017 (closed group) so long as they are engaged.

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## Annexure-I STATEMENT  REFFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.4104

## FOR 04-01-2019

## State-wise National Level Awards to Anganwadi Workers during Years 2014-15 to 2016-17

| Sl. No.   | State                  | Number of Awardees   | Number of Awardees   | Number of Awardees   |
|-----------|------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
|           |                        | 2014-15              | 2015-16              | 2016-17              |
| 1         | ANDHRA PRADESH         | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 2         | ARUNACHAL PRADESH      | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 3         | ASSAM                  | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 4         | ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR    | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 5         | BIHAR                  | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 6         | CHHATTISGARH           | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 7         | GOA                    | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 8         | GUJARAT                | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 9         | HARYANA                | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 10        | HIMACHAL PRADESH       | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 11        | JAMMU AND KASHMIR      | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 12        | JHARKHAND              | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 13        | KARNATAKA              | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 14        | KERALA                 | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 15        | MADHYA PRADESH         | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 16        | MAHARASHTRA            | 1                    | 3                    | 3                    |
| 17        | MANIPUR                | 1                    | NA                   | 1                    |
| 18        | MEGHALAYA              | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 19        | MIZORAM                | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 20        | NAGALAND               | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 21        | ODISHA                 | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 22        | PUNJAB                 | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 23        | RAJASTHAN              | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 24        | SIKKIM                 | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 25        | TAMIL NADU             | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 26        | TELANGANA              | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 27        | TRIPURA                | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 28        | UTTAR PRADESH          | 4                    | 4                    | 4                    |
| 29        | UTTARAKHAND            | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 30        | WEST BENGAL            | 2                    | 2                    | 2                    |
| 31        | CHANDIGARH             | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 32        | DELHI                  | 1                    | NA                   | 1                    |
| 33        | DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI | 1                    | NA                   | 1                    |
| 34        | DAMAN AND DIU          | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 35        | LAKSHADWEEP            | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
| 36        | PUDUCHERRY             | 1                    | 1                    | 1                    |
|           | Total                  | 49                   | 48                   | 51                   |