Lok Sabha Question No. 734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Women Anganwadi Workers
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 734

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2024

## WOMEN ANGANWADI WORKERS

## +734   SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL

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

- (a) Whether the Government has taken note that most of the Anganwadi centres located in various States of the country including Rajasthan, lacks Government buildings and basic facilities;
- (b) if  so, the details thereof alongwith the policy of the Government to solve the above issue;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to enact any act to provide pay scale and other facilities to Women Anganwadi workers on the line of regular workers;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  time  by  which  such  plan  is  likely  to  be implemented; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) and (b): Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the implementation of the scheme falls under the ambit of State Government/ UT Administration. As per APIP Data, across the nation a total 13.95 lakh AWCs are operational out of which 3.33 lakh are in rented premises. In Rajasthan, 61885 AWCs are operational out of which 8456 are in rented premises.

The  Government  of  India  has  time  and  again  requested  State  Governments  and  UT Administrations to co-locate AWCs in Govt. owned buildings. Further, States/UTs have also been advised that necessary steps shall be undertaken to ensure that AWCs operating in rented premises shall be equipped with all the basic amenities. Else the existing premises may be dehired..

To improve infrastructure at AWCs the cost norms for construction of Anganwadi Centres in convergence with MGNREGS are Rs.12 Lakh per AWC wherein Rs.8.00 Lakh would be provided under MGNREGS, Rs.2.00 Lakh under 15th FC (or 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. States/UTs have also been requested to continue to tap funds for construction of AWC buildings from various schemes such as MPLADs, RIDF, Finance Commission Grants to Panchayati Raj Institutions, NREGA, MSDP of Ministry of Minority Affairs, etc.

In order to improve the infrastructure facility of Anganwadi Centres various steps have been undertaken  by  the  Ministry  that,  inter  alia,  include  increasing  the  permitted  cost  per Anganwadi  Centre  of  creating  drinking  water  facilities  and  toilets  from  Rs.10,000/-  to Rs.17,000/- and Rs.12,000/- to Rs.36,000/- respectively.

The Ministry has issued directions to States/UTs to co-locate those Anganwadi Centres which are running on rent without sufficient infrastructure, with the nearby Primary Schools.

(c) to (e): No such proposal is currently under consideration.

Anganwadi Workers (AWW) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWH) are 'honorary workers' from the local community who voluntarily come forward to render their services in the area of child care  and  development  to  help  the  community.  However,  the  States/UTs  are  the  primary authorities to decide the service conditions of AWW/AWH.

With a view to incentivize and encourage the Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers, various steps/initiatives have been undertaken such as:-

- (i) Promotion:  Under  Mission  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0,  promotional opportunities  for  Anganwadi  Workers  have  been  enhanced.  50%  posts  of Anganwadi Workers to be filled by Anganwadi Helpers with 5 years of experience and 50% posts of Supervisors to be filled by promotion of Anganwadi Workers with 5 years of experience subject to fulfilment of other criteria.
- (ii) 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  (covers life risk, death due to any reason) 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.
- (iii) 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.
- (iv) 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  (PMSYM) Pension Scheme, which is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for the unorganized sector in the country to ensure old age protection.
- (v) Coverage under Ayushman Bharat: It has been announced in the interim budget FY 2024-25 to extend healthcare annual coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to all Anganwadi workers and helpers.
- (vi) Retirement date: States/ UTs have been requested to adopt a uniform retirement date i.e 30 th  April of each year with respect to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers to ensure proper human resource planning and to reduce the number of vacancies