Lok Sabha Question No. 23 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-21
Subject: Payment of Honorarium to Anganwadi Workers/Helpers
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane, Bhavana Gawali (Patil)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 23 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2023

## PAYMENT OF HONORARIUM TO ANGANWADI WORKERS/HELPERS

- *23.    SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE: SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI:

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

- (a)      the  number  of  workers/helpers  working  in  Anganwadi  Centres  and  the honorarium given to them at present, State-wise particularly in Maharashtra;
- (b)       the  fast  track  plan  of  the  Government  to  improve  the  appalling  working conditions and to increase the wages of such workers;
- (c)       whether the Government has taken cognizance of the protest by the Anganwadi workers/helpers for increasing their honorarium and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/proposed to address the said problem/demand and provide them social security benefits including increasing their honorarium/wages and implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee;
- (d)      if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)      the data regarding death of workers/helpers during COVID-19 pandemic and the amount of compensation given to their kin?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e)         A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in reply to Part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.  23  to  be  answered  on  21.07.2023  regarding  'Payment  of  Honorarium  to Anganwadi Workers/Helpers'

- (a)       At  present,  there  are  a  total  of  12,93,448  Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and 11,64,178  Anganwadi  Helpers  (AWHs)  working  across  the  country.  State/UT-wise statement of number of AWWs and AWHs is placed at Annexure . Currently,  the  Anganwadi  Workers  at  main-AWCs,  Anganwadi  Workers  at  miniAnganwadi Centres and Anganwadi Helpers are paid honorarium of Rs.4,500/- per month, Rs.3,500/- per month and Rs.2,250/- per month respectively.

There is also a provision of performance linked incentive of Rs.250/- per month to AWHs and Rs.500 to AWWs.  In addition to this, States/UTs are also paying additional monetary incentives/honorarium to these functionaries from their own resources.

- (b)      To improve the working conditions of AWWs/AWHs, Government has taken the following steps:
- (i) Honorarium: From 1 st  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.
- (ii) Improvement in Infrastructure: 2  lakh  Anganwadi  Centres  (AWCs) are  being upgraded  under  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0  (Mission  Poshan  2.0)  as Saksham Anganwadi with improved/upgraded infrastructure in aspirational districts @40,000/- AWCs per annum upto 2025-26. In 2022-23, 41,192 AWCs have been identified for upgradation with inter alia LEDs and smart leaning and teaching aids. Besides, the cost of drinking water facilities and toilets at Anganwadi Centres have been  increased  from  Rs  10,000/-  to  Rs  17,000/-  and  Rs  12,000/-  to  Rs  36,000/respectively. For construction of Anganwadi Centres in convergence with MGNREGS, construction cost has been revised from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12 lakh per unit. Keeping in view  the  importance  of  nutrition  and  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education  (ECCE) services  delivery,  it  has  been  decided  to  upgrade  all  mini-Anganwadi  Centres  to main/regular Anganwadi with the availability of an Anganwadi Helper.
- (iii) Leveraging  IT  through  Poshan  Tracker: Under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) IT systems have been leveraged to strengthen and bring  about  transparency  in  delivery  support  systems  at  Anganwadi  Centres.  The 'Poshan  Tracker'  application  was  rolled  out  by  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child Development on 1 st  March 2021 as an important governance tool. Anganwadi Workers have  been  technologically  empowered  with  smartphones  (approx.  11  lakh).  So far, 13.9 lakh AWCs have registered on Poshan Tracker.  Poshan Tracker is available in 24 languages including Hindi and English. The mobile application has digitized and automated the physical registers used by AWWs which has also helped in improving their quality of work.

(iv) Promotion Avenues: As per Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 Guidelines issued by the Ministry, promotional opportunities for Anganwadi Workers have been enhanced. 50% posts of Anganwadi Workers shall be filled by promotion of Anganwadi Helpers with 5 years of experience and 50% posts of Supervisors shall be filled by promotion of Anganwadi Workers with 5 years of experience subject to fulfillment of other criteria.

- (v) Capacity  Building: Ministry  has  drafted  a  training  schedule,  involving  a cascading model of training, wherein Master Trainers (namely, District Officers, Block Coordinators,  and  Supervisors)  will  be  trained  through  NIPCCD,  and  the  master trainers  would  directly  train  all  Anganwadi  Workers  in  the  field.  Further,  NeGD  is regularly conducting field level trainings / workshops directly for Anganwadi Workers regarding use of the Poshan Tracker Application. Multiple rounds of trainings have been held both virtually and physically, in various districts across the country.
- (vi) Leave: Anganwadi Workers have been allowed paid absence of 180 days of maternity leave.  Also, 20 days annual leaves are permissible.
- (vii) Uniform: There is a provision for set of two Uniform (saree/suit per annum) to AWW/AWH.
- (viii) Social Security Insurance Schemes : insurance benefits have been  provided to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) for life cover of Rs.2.00 lakh  (covering life risk, death due to any reason) to AWWs/AWHs in the age group of 18 to 50 years and  Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana for accidental cover of Rs.2.00 Lakh (accidental death and permanent full disability) /Rs. 1.00 Lakh (partial but permanent disability) to AWWs and AWHs in the age group of 18-59 years.

Now,  Government  has  decided  to  provide  insurance  cover  under  PMJJBY  and PMSBY to AWWs/AWHs through their bank accounts and the funds towards premium payment will be released to the States/UTs on the prescribed cost sharing ratio under Anganwadi Services Scheme.

- (ix) Insurance cover under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package : Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers who have been engaged with the Covid-19 related tasks, have been provided with insurance cover of Rs.50 lakh under "Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package" with certain conditions.
- (x) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM): State Governments/UT Administrations have been  requested to encourage  eligible  AWWs/AWHs  to get themselves enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) Pension  Scheme,  which  is  a  voluntary  and  contributory  pension  scheme  for  the unorganized sectors in the country to ensure old age protection. Under the scheme, prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary with matching contribution by the Central Government for availing the assured pension of ₹3,000/per month on attaining the age of 60 years.

(c) & (d) Anganwadi Services is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme  and  the implementation, monitoring and administration of the Scheme is undertaken by the concerned State Governments/ UT administrations. Therefore, taking cognizance of protest by Anganwadi Workers, Government has issued necessary instructions to all States/  UTs  to  take  appropriate  measures  and  ensure  that  the  services  in  the Anganwadi Centres are not affected due to protest.  Further, States/ UTs have been requested to devise strategy for suitable engagement with protesting organizations for smooth and uninterrupted implementation of the Scheme.

(e)      The ' Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), insurance scheme for Health  Care  Workers  Fighting  COVID-19'  was  launched  on  30th  March,  2020  to provide comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs. 50 Lakh to 22.12 lakh health care providers including community health workers and private health workers who may have been in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and may have been exposed to risk of being impacted.

Till 12th July, 2023, a total of 38 claims of Anganwadi workers have been settled under the  scheme  and  an  amount  of  Rs.  19,00,00,000/-  has  been  disbursed  @  Rs. 50,00,000/- per claim.

********

ANNEXURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.23 FOR ANSWER ON 21.07.2023

| No of Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers as per APIP 2023-24   | No of Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers as per APIP 2023-24   | No of Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers as per APIP 2023-24   | No of Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers as per APIP 2023-24   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                                                               | Name of States/UTs                                                  | AWC WORKER                                                          | AWC HELPER                                                          |
| 1                                                                   | Andhra Pradesh                                                      | 55105                                                               | 47493                                                               |
| 2                                                                   | Bihar                                                               | 112094                                                              | 103141                                                              |
| 3                                                                   | Chhattisgarh                                                        | 50197                                                               | 43733                                                               |
| 4                                                                   | Goa                                                                 | 1211                                                                | 1186                                                                |
| 5                                                                   | Gujarat                                                             | 51545                                                               | 47781                                                               |
| 6                                                                   | Haryana                                                             | 24269                                                               | 22010                                                               |
| 7                                                                   | Himachal Pradesh                                                    | 18641                                                               | 17793                                                               |
| 8                                                                   | Jammu & Kashmir                                                     | 25900                                                               | 25165                                                               |
| 9                                                                   | Jharkhand                                                           | 37797                                                               | 35235                                                               |
| 10                                                                  | Karnataka                                                           | 65703                                                               | 58733                                                               |
| 11                                                                  | Kerala                                                              | 33115                                                               | 32986                                                               |
| 12                                                                  | Madhya Pradesh                                                      | 95763                                                               | 82020                                                               |
| 13                                                                  | Maharashtra                                                         | 93513                                                               | 80902                                                               |
| 14                                                                  | Orissa                                                              | 73351                                                               | 65981                                                               |
| 15                                                                  | Punjab                                                              | 25984                                                               | 21200                                                               |
| 16                                                                  | Rajasthan                                                           | 60494                                                               | 54216                                                               |
| 17                                                                  | Tamil Nadu                                                          | 44070                                                               | 39834                                                               |
| 18                                                                  | Telangana                                                           | 33923                                                               | 28662                                                               |
| 19                                                                  | Uttar Pradesh                                                       | 154342                                                              | 132671                                                              |
| 20                                                                  | Uttarakhand                                                         | 14947                                                               | 14947                                                               |
| 21                                                                  | West Bengal                                                         | 104451                                                              | 99509                                                               |
| 22                                                                  | A&N Island                                                          | 720                                                                 | 689                                                                 |
| 23                                                                  | Chandigarh                                                          | 439                                                                 | 447                                                                 |
| 24                                                                  | Dadra & Nagar Haveli/ Daman & Diu                                   | 405                                                                 | 337                                                                 |
| 25                                                                  | Lakshadweep                                                         | 59                                                                  | 59                                                                  |
| 26                                                                  | Delhi                                                               | 10434                                                               | 10674                                                               |
| 27                                                                  | Puducherry                                                          | 740                                                                 | 781                                                                 |
| 28                                                                  | Arunachal Pradesh                                                   | 6225                                                                | 6225                                                                |
| 29                                                                  | Assam                                                               | 62050                                                               | 56591                                                               |
| 30                                                                  | Manipur                                                             | 11384                                                               | 9875                                                                |
| 31                                                                  | Meghalaya                                                           | 5896                                                                | 4630                                                                |
| 32                                                                  | Mizoram                                                             | 2244                                                                | 2244                                                                |
| 33                                                                  | Nagaland                                                            | 3980                                                                | 3980                                                                |
| 34                                                                  | Sikkim                                                              | 1308                                                                | 1308                                                                |
| 35                                                                  | Tripura                                                             | 10038                                                               | 10038                                                               |
| 36                                                                  | Ladakh                                                              | 1111                                                                | 1102                                                                |
| Total                                                               | Total                                                               | 1293448                                                             | 1164178                                                             |