Lok Sabha Question No. 50 (STARRED), answered on 2018-07-20
Subject: Problems/Grievances of AWWs/ Helpers
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: UDAY PRATAP SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.50

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2018

## PROBLEMS/GRIEVANCES OF AWWs/HELPERS

| * 50.   | SHRIUDAY PRATAP SINGH: Will the Minister of WOMENANDCHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:                   |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)     | whether the Government has taken cognizance of the problems/grievances of Anganwadi workers (AWWs)/helpers;  |
| (b)     | if so, the details thereof along with the remedial steps taken by the Government so far;                     |
| (c)     | whether the Government has received proposals from States/UTs for increasing the salary of AWWs/helpers; and |
| (d)     | if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government in this regard?                         |
|         | ANSWER MINISTER OF WOMENANDCHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)                                 |
| (a)     | to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                                       |

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## Statement referred to in reply to Part (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.50 for 20.07.2018 by Shri Uday Pratap Singh regarding 'Problems/Grievances of AWWs/Helpers'.

- (a) & (b)  The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme (now renamed as Anganwadi  Services  under  Umbrella  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.  Being honorary workers, they are paid monthly honoraria as decided by Government from time to time.

Anganwadi Workers & Helpers have been raising demands from time to time i.e.,  regularization  of  their  services,  career  progression,  payment  of  gratuity  and pension, enhancement in the monthly honorarium paid to them, etc. through various forums.    The  Government  is  well  aware  of  grievances  of  AWWs/AWHs  and appreciates the voluntary efforts made by them.

The Government of India has enhanced the honorarium of AWWs and AWHs at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) by ₹ 1,500/- & ₹ 750/- per month raising it to ₹ 3000/-& ₹ 1,500/- per month respectively w.e.f. 01.04.2011.  The honorarium of AWWs at Mini-AWCs has been enhanced to ₹ 2,250/- per month w.e.f. 04.07.2013. Besides this, most of the States/UTs are also giving additional honorarium to AWWs and AWHs out of their own resources for any additional work assigned to them from time to time. The  Government  of  India  releases  funds  consistently  for  regular  disbursement  of honorarium  of  AWWs/AWHs.    The  Government  of  India  has  been  requesting States/UTs for enhancement of additional honorarium of AWWs/AWHs.  In response thereto, most of the States/UTs have enhanced additional honorarium of AWWs/AWHs.    The  details  of  additional  honorarium  being  paid  by  respective States/UTs are at Annex-I .  From time to time, States/UTs have been requested for the timely payment of honorarium to AWWs and AWHs.

As regards, regularization of their services, payment of gratuity and pension are concerned, it is stated that being honorary workers, these functionaries cannot be declared as 'Government employees/regular employees' or extended the benefits as admissible to employees of the Government.  Further, the Supreme Court of India in ruling  of  07.12.2006  in  Civil  Appeal  No.4953-4957  of  1998  State  of  Karnataka  & Ors. Vs. Ameerbi & Ors. has also held that AWWs/AWHs do not hold any civil post. So  far  as  career  progression  is  concerned,  this  Ministry  has  reserved  50%  posts  of Supervisors  for  Anganwadi  Workers  and  25%  posts  for  Anganwadi  Workers  for Angawadi Helpers.

- (c)      &  (d)  The  Sub-Scheme  of  Anganwadi  Services  (under  Umbrella  Integrated  Child Development Services Scheme) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the administration, management & monitoring regarding implementation of the Anganwadi Services Scheme are being done by the concerned State Government/UT Administration.  Therefore the issue of enhancement of honorarium over and above falls within the purview of the concerned State Government/UT Administration.

The States/UTs receive adequate funds since there is a provision of ₹ 16,334.88 crore  during  the  current  financial  year  2018-19  against  the  budgetary  provision  of ₹ 15,245.19 crore during the last financial year 2017-18. To ensure that AWWs/AWHs receive  timely  payment,  States/UTs  have  been  asked  to  remit  their honorarium directly to their bank accounts.

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## Annexure to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.50 for answer on 20.07.2018

## Statement indicating additional honorarium given by the States/UTs to AWWs/AWHs from their own resources

## (As on 30.06.2018)

| S. No.   | States/UTs         | Additional honorarium given by States/UTs (In Rs.)   | Additional honorarium given by States/UTs (In Rs.)   |
|----------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.   | States/UTs         | Anganwadi Workers (AWW)                              | Anganwadi Helper (AWH)                               |
| 1.       | Andaman &Nicobar   | 3000                                                 | 2500                                                 |
| 2.       | Andhra Pradesh     | 1200                                                 | 700                                                  |
| 3.       | Arunachal Pradesh  | Nil                                                  | Nil                                                  |
| 4.       | Assam              | 2000                                                 | 1000                                                 |
| 5.       | Bihar              | 750                                                  | 375                                                  |
| 6.       | Chandigarh         | 2000                                                 | 1000                                                 |
| 7.       | Chhattisgarh       | 2000                                                 | 1000                                                 |
| 8.       | Dadra Nagar Haveli | 1000                                                 | 600                                                  |
| 9.       | Daman &Diu         | 1000                                                 | 600                                                  |
| 10.      | Delhi              | 6678                                                 | 3339                                                 |
| 11.      | Goa                | 3062-11937*                                          | 3000-6000*                                           |
| 12.      | Gujarat            | 3300                                                 | 1700                                                 |
| 13.      | Haryana            | 7286-8429*                                           | 4215                                                 |
| 14.      | Himachal Pradesh   | 1750                                                 | 900                                                  |
| 15.      | Jammu &Kashmir     | 600                                                  | 340                                                  |
| 16.      | Jharkhand          | 1400                                                 | 700                                                  |
| 17.      | Karnataka          | 5000                                                 | 2500                                                 |
| 18.      | Kerala             | 2000                                                 | 2000                                                 |
| 19.      | Lakshadweep        | 3000                                                 | 2000                                                 |
| 20.      | Madhya Pradesh     | 7000                                                 | 3500                                                 |
| 21.      | Maharashtra        | 2000                                                 | 1000                                                 |
| 22.      | Manipur            | 100                                                  | 50                                                   |
| 23.      | Meghalaya          | Nil                                                  | Nil                                                  |
| 24.      | Odisha             | 1000                                                 | 500                                                  |
| 25.      | Puducherry         | 600                                                  | 300                                                  |
| 26.      | Punjab             | 2600                                                 | 1300                                                 |
| 27.      | Rajasthan          | 1724-1736*                                           | 1065                                                 |
| 28.      | Sikkim             | 2225                                                 | 1500                                                 |
| 29.      | Uttarakhand        | 3000                                                 | 1500                                                 |
| 30.      | West Bengal        | 1300                                                 | 1300                                                 |
| 31.      | Uttar Pradesh      | 1000                                                 | 500                                                  |
| 32.      | Nagaland           | Nil                                                  | Nil                                                  |
| 33.      | Mizoram            | 294-306*                                             | 150                                                  |
| 34.      | Tamil Nadu         | 6750 (that includes pay- 2500, GP-500, &DA-3750)     | 4275 (that includes pay- 1500, GP-400, &DA- 2375)    |
| 35.      | Telangana          | 10500                                                | 6000                                                 |