Lok Sabha Question No. 1133 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-08
Subject: Vacant Post in Anganwadi Centres
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1133

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2023

## VACANT POST IN ANGANWADI CENTRES

## 1133.  SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Ministry  has  undertaken  any  thorough  study  on  the  status  and challenges being faced by Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), Anganwadi Workers, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  said  report  will  be  published  by  the  Ministry,  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (c) whether there are vacant positions in AWC at various levels;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- (e) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to fill up the said vacancies?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e)   Anganwadi Services under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is an ongoing scheme wherein continuous revamping and restructuring is undertaken for successful implementation of the scheme and to provide benefits to the end beneficiaries in an efficient manner. A third party evaluation of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Women and Child Development Sector including Anganwadi services was conducted by NITI Aayog in 2020. The evaluation found the relevance of Anganwadi Services scheme satisfactory. In the 15 th  FC, components of nutritional support for children below the age of 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mother, Adolescent Girls; Early Childhood Care and  Education  [3-6  years];  Anganwadi  infrastructure  including  modern,  upgraded Saksham Anganwadi has been reorganised under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 for effective implementation of the scheme.

Anganwadi Services is a Centrally Sponsored scheme and the implementation of the scheme falls under the ambit of State Government/UT administration. The matter regarding  filling  up  of  vacant  posts  at  various  levels  is  taken  up  with  the  State Governments/ UT Administrations through sustained engagements/video conferences. Also,  States/UTs  are  time  and  again  requested  not  to  involve  Anganwadi  Workers/ Helpers in non scheme related work to prevent unnecessary burden on the incumbent staff.

The State/UT wise details of vacant positions in Anganwadi Centres at various levels is placed at Annexure A. Further, with a view to incentivize and encourage the

Anganwadi  Workers  and  Anganwadi  Helpers  various  steps/  initiatives  have  been undertaken including the following:

(i) Promotion : 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 fulfilment of other criteria.

(ii)  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.

(iii) Educational Qualification: To ensure effective implementation of the ECCE programme  under  the  scheme,  the  educational  qualifications  of  both  the Anganwadi Workers as well as Helpers has been enhanced to 12 th  Standard.

(iv) Leave : Anganwadi Workers have been allowed paid absence of 180 days of  maternity leave, paid absence on abortion/ miscarriage once for 45 days. Also, 20 days annual leaves are permissible.

(v) Uniform : There is a provision for set of two uniforms (saree/suit per annum) to AWW/AWH.

(vi) 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) 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,  it  has  been  decided  to  provide  insurance  cover  under  PMJJBY  and PMSBY to AWWs/AWHs through their bank accounts and the funds towards premium payment released to the States/UTs on the prescribed cost sharing ratio under Anganwadi Services Scheme.

(vii) 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.

(viii) 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.

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ANNEXURE A

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1133 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2023 REGARDING 'VACANT POSITIONS IN ANGANWADI CENTRES'

| S.No   | State/UTs                         | Vacancy Position (As per APIP data 2023-24)   | Vacancy Position (As per APIP data 2023-24)   |
|--------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| S.No   | State/UTs                         | AWWs (No. of vacant positions)                | AWHs (No. of vacant positions)                |
| 1      | Andhra Pradesh                    | 848                                           | 1561                                          |
| 2      | BIHAR                             | 0                                             | 2634                                          |
| 3      | CHHATTISGARH                      | 1698                                          | 2868                                          |
| 4      | GOA                               | 45                                            | 48                                            |
| 5      | GUJARAT                           | 1484                                          | 5123                                          |
| 6      | HARYANA                           | 1211                                          | 1815                                          |
| 7      | JHARKHAND                         | 635                                           | 646                                           |
| 8      | KARNATAKA                         | 184                                           | 4849                                          |
| 9      | KERALA                            | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 10     | MADHYA PRADESH                    | 1414                                          | 2795                                          |
| 11     | MAHARASHTRA                       | 3962                                          | 16573                                         |
| 12     | ODISHA                            | 721                                           | 593                                           |
| 13     | PUNJAB                            | 1330                                          | 4874                                          |
| 14     | RAJASTHAN                         | 1314                                          | 1600                                          |
| 15     | TAMIL NADU                        | 8933                                          | 9665                                          |
| 16     | TELANGANA                         | 1777                                          | 7038                                          |
| 17     | UTTAR PRADESH                     | 25665                                         | 34835                                         |
| 18     | WEST BENGAL                       | 15030                                         | 19972                                         |
| 19     | DELHI                             | 463                                           | 223                                           |
| 20     | PUDUCHERRY                        | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 21     | HIMACHAL PRADESH                  | 283                                           | 593                                           |
| 22     | JAMMU & KASHMIR                   | 2526                                          | 3261                                          |
| 23     | UTTARAKHAND                       | 447                                           | 1252                                          |
| 24     | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR                 | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 25     | CHANDIGARH                        | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 26     | D. & NAGAR HAVELI and DAMAN & DIU | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 27     | Ladakh                            | 70                                            | 76                                            |
| 28     | LAKSHADWEEP                       | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 29     | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                 | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 30     | ASSAM                             | 60                                            | 60                                            |
| 31     | MANIPUR                           | 94                                            | 83                                            |
| 32     | MEGHALAYA                         | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 33     | MIZORAM                           | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 34     | NAGALAND                          | 250                                           | 250                                           |
| 35     | SIKKIM                            | 0                                             | 0                                             |
| 36     | TRIPURA                           | 0                                             | 0                                             |
|        |                                   | 70444 123287                                  | 70444 123287                                  |

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