Lok Sabha Question No. 1528 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Disruption in Anganwadi Services
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Hemant Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1528

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2023

## DISRUPTION IN ANGANWADI SERVICES

## 1528: SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Anganwadi Centre (AWC) based nutrition services have continued to  be  disrupted even after the  lockdown ended in March 2020 as per study report aided by NITI Aayog and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the details of children who rejoined the Anganwadi centres after its reopening in the State of Maharashtra;
- (c) whether 43 per cent of families with pregnant or lactating women are facing difficulties in getting food from AWC;
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to increase honorarium/salary to Anganwadi workers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) During COVID-19 pandemic, as per MHA guidelines, all Anganwadi Centres were closed to limit the impact of COVID-19. However, to ensure continuous nutritional support  to  Anganwadi  beneficiaries,  Anganwadi  Workers  and  Anganwadi  Helpers distributed  Supplementary  Nutrition  at  the  doorstep  of  beneficiaries  once  in  15 days.

After the lockdown ended, 9.06 crore beneficiaries as on June, 2021 and 9.51 crore beneficiaries as on June, 2022 received Supplementary Nutrition.

Details of beneficiaries of Supplementary Nutrition and Pre school education in the State of Maharashtra as on 30.06.2022 is as under:

|   Total children beneficiaries of Supplementary Nutrition ( 6 months - 6 years) Total beneficiaries of Pre school education |   Total children beneficiaries of Supplementary Nutrition ( 6 months - 6 years) Total beneficiaries of Pre school education |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                     6117169 |                                                                                                                     2971292 |

During  the  COVID-19  pandemic  period,  Ministry  sought  regular  reports  from States/UTs  to  ensure  uninterrupted  delivery  of  nutrition  and  essential  services  to beneficiaries. During the pandemic, Take Home Ration was provided as Anganwadi

Centres  were  closed.   States/UTs  were  also  submitting  progress  reports  on  the implementation of Anganwadi Services. No report was received on challenges faced by beneficiaries.

(e)     Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) are paid monthly honorarium as decided by Government of India from time to time, which is uniform in all States/UTs.  Presently, AWWs at main-AWCs are paid an honorarium of ₹4,500/per month; AWWs at mini-AWCs ₹3,500/- per month and AWHs are paid ₹2,250/- per month at the prescribed cost sharing ratio between the Centre and State/ UT.  Also, performance linked incentive of ₹250/- per month paid to AWHs and ₹500/- per month paid to AWWs.  In addition, States/UTs are also paying additional monetary incentives/ honorarium to these functionaries from their own resources.

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