Lok Sabha Question No. 2770 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-17
Subject: Mini Anganwadi Centres in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Keshari Devi Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 2770

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2023

## MINI ANGANWADI CENTRES IN UTTAR PRADESH

## †2770. SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

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

- a. the guidelines for setting up Mini Anganwadi Centres (MACs);
- b. the number of MACs currently operational in Uttar Pradesh indicating the facilities provided at the said centres;
- c. whether  the  Government  has  fixed  any  population  criteria  to  set  up  MACs  and increased the honorarium amount of Anganwadi Workers, if so, the details thereof;
- d. whether the Government has received proposals from Uttar Pradesh to set up more such MACs, if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon; and
- e. whether  the  Government  proposes  to  upgrade  such  centres  and  allocate  additional funds for construction of their permanent buildings or to increase the estimated cost and provide infrastructure and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The population norms for setting up of mini-Anganwadi Centres is tabulated as below:

|                                                                  | Population/ Mini-AWC   |   No. of |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|----------|
| Rural/Urban Projects                                             | 150-400                |        1 |
| Tribal/Riverine/Desert, Hilly and other difficult areas/Projects | 150-300                |        1 |

(b)       The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has  sanctioned  22290  Mini Anganwadi Centres to the Government of Uttar Pradesh out of which 22290 are operational. The facilities provided at Anganwadi Centres are as below:

- i. Supplementary Nutrition;
- ii. Pre-school Non-formal Education;
- iii. Nutrition & Health Education;
- iv. Immunization;
- v. Health Check-up; and
- vi. Referral Services has been provided to all eligible beneficiaries, namely, children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers through the platform of Anganwadi Centres across the country.

Three of the services viz. Immunization, Health Check-up and Referral Services are related to health and are provided through NHM & Public Health Infrastructure.

- (c)      As per the population norms for setting up of mini Anganwadi Centres:

|                                                                  | Population/ No. of Mini-AWC   |   Population/ No. of Mini-AWC |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Rural/Urban Projects                                             | 150-400                       |                             1 |
| Tribal/Riverine/Desert, Hilly and other difficult areas/Projects | 150-300                       |                             1 |

From 1st October, 2018, Government of  India has enhanced the honorarium of AWWs at main-AWCs  from  Rs.3,000/-  to  Rs.4,500/-  per  month;  AWWs  at  mini-  AWCs  from Rs.2,250/-  to  Rs.3,500/-  per  month;  AWHs  from  Rs.1,500/-  to  Rs.2,250/-  per  month;  and introduced  performance  linked  incentive  of  Rs.250/-  per  month  to  AWHs  and  Rs.500  to AWWs. In addition, States/UTs are also paying additional monetary incentives/honorarium to these functionaries from their own resources which vary from State to State.

- (d)       In  the  recent  past,  no  proposal  has  been  received  from  the  Government  of  Uttar Pradesh for setting up of Mini Anganwadi Centres. Government has taken a policy decision to upgrade all mini AWCs to Main AWCs subject to States agreeing to bear their portion of cost. The proposal from UP in this regard is awaited.
- (e)       For  upgradation  of  mini-anganwadi  Centres  to  main  Anganwadi  Centres  across  the country,  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has  advised  all  the  States/UTs having mini Anganwadi Centres to examine the actual need/demand of upgradation of mini Anganwadi Centres to main Anganwadi Centres taking into account the additional financial implication arising out of this upgradation.

Further,  for  upgradation  of  Anganwadi  Centres  (including  mini  Anganwadi  Centres), following steps have been undertaken:

- i. Under Saksham Anganwadi,  2 lakh Anganwadi Centres  (AWCs) (40,000 AWCs per year) across the country would be strengthened and upgraded for improved nutrition delivery and for early childhood care and education for children under 6 years of age. This year 40,000 AWCs have been identified in aspirational districts for upgradation. Saksham Anganwadis to have better infrastructure including internet/wifi connectivity, LED screens and smart learning and audio-visual aids and child-friendly learning equipment.
- ii. The  cost  of  construction  of  toilet  per  AWC  has  been  revised  to  Rs.36000/-  from Rs.12000/-  and  the  cost  for  providing  drinking  water  facilities  has  been  revised  to Rs.17000/- from Rs.10000/-.
- iii. States/UTs  have  been  advised  to  take  up  the  matter  of  installation  of  rainwater harvesting in Government owned Anganwadi buildings.
- iv. A  total  of  50,000  AWCs  (@10,000  AWCs  per  year)  would  be  constructed  under convergence with MGNREGS for a five year period ending FY 2025-26. The cost of construction of AWC buildings under convergence with MGNREGA has been revised to  Rs.12.00  lakh  per  AWC  of  out  of  Rs.8.00  lakh  would  be  provided  under MGNREGS, Rs.2.00 lakh under 15 th Finance  Commission  funds  (any  other  untied funds)  and  Rs.2.00  lakh  by  MWCD  per  AWC  to  be  shared  between  Centre  and States/UTs in the prescribed cost sharing ratio.
- v. Grants are sanctioned for purchase of furniture, equipment, etc.
- vi. Anganwadi  Workers  (AWWs)  have  been  provided  with  Smart  Phones  for efficient service delivery and Anganwadi Centres have been equipped with Growth Monitoring Devices.

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