Lok Sabha Question No. 135 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Mini Anganwadi Centres
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 135

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2023

## MINI ANGANWADI CENTRES

- *135.     SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: SHRI SANJAY JADHAV:

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

- (a) the guidelines for setting up Mini Anganwadi Centres (MACs);
- (b) the  number  of  MACs  currently  operational  in  Maharashtra  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 Maharashtra 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) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to Part (a) to (e) of LokSabha Starred Question No. 135 to be answered on 10.02.2023 regarding "Mini Anganwadi Centres"

- (a)      The population norms for opening of mini-Anganwadi Centres is tabulated as below:
- (b)       The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has  sanctioned  13011  Mini Anganwadi  Centres  to  the  Government  of  Maharashtra  out  of  which  12971  are operational.

|                                                                  | 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 |

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 Maharashtra for setting up of Mini Anganwadi Centres.
- (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, across the country 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres   (AWCs)  (40,000  AWCs  per  year)  would  be  strengthened  and upgraded  for  improved  nutrition  and   early  childhood  care  and  education (ECCE) delivery. This year 40,000 AWCs have been identified in aspirational districts for upgradation. Saksham Anganwadis will have better infrastructure including  internet/wifi  connectivity,  LED  screens,  smart  learning  and  audiovisual 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 Centre 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.

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