Lok Sabha Question No. 2232 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-10
Subject: Infrastructural Development of Anganwadi Centres
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane, Bhavana Gawali (Patil)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2232

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2021

## INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF ANGANWADI CENTRES

2232:  SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

## SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI:

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

- (a) the criteria on which the honorarium of Anganwadi workers has been fixed along with honorarium being presently paid;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  increase  the  honorarium  of  Anganwadi workers, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to constitute a committee for assessing the work load of anganwadi workers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  sanction  special  fund  to  States  for infrastructural development of anganwadi and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether anganwadi is a main center of preschool education and healthcare for rural  children  and  if  so,  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  to  strengthen  the activities of anganwadis; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  special  training  to  anganwadi workers, and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b) Anganwadi  Workers  (AWWs)  and  Anganwadi  Helpers  (AWHs),  being honorary workers, are paid monthly honoraria as decided by the Government from time to time.  With effect from  01.10.2018,  Government  of  India  has  enhanced  the honorarium of AWWs at main AWCs 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 effective from 1 st October, 2018. Further, performance linked incentive @ ₹ 500/- per month  to  Anganwadi  Workers  is  also  paid.  In  addition,  States/UTs  are  also  paying monetary incentives/honorarium to these workers out of their own resources.

- (c) No Sir.

(d)  and  (e)  At  present  there  is  no  proposal  to  sanction  special  fund  to  States  for infrastructural development of Anganwadi. However, for the development of infrastructure at Anganwadi Centres, several measures have been taken for improving facilities at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs):

- (i)   Revised joint guidelines were issued by Ministries of Women & Child Development,  Rural  Development  and  Panchayati  Raj  for  construction  of 4 lakh AWC  buildings across the country  under  Mahatma  Gandhi  National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in convergence with Anganwadi Services (ICDS Scheme). (ii)   Under Swachhta Action Plan, Rs.10,000/-per AWC is provided for drinking water facilities and Rs.12,000/-per AWC for toilet facilities. (iii)   Grants are sanctioned for purchase of water filter, furniture, equipment, etc. (iv)   Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) have been provided with Smart Phones for efficient service delivery. (v)  Streamlined guidelines were issued on 13.01.2021, covering several aspects such as  quality  assurance,  roles  and  responsibilities  of  duty  holders,  procedure  for procurement, integrating AYUSH concepts and Data management and Monitoring through 'Poshan Tracker' for transparency, efficiency and accountability in delivery
- of Supplementary Nutrition.
- (f)         Prevailing  training  facilities  cover  most  areas  of  functioning  of  Anganwadi workers.

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