Lok Sabha Question No. 1569 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Vacancies in Anganwadi
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1569

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2023

## VACANCIES IN ANGANWADI

## 1569    SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

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

- (a) the number of Anganwadi functioning in the State of Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) the number and details of Anganwadi vacancies released by the  Government during the last three years;
- (c) whether the Government is considering the amount paid to Anganwadi   workers to ensure them better livelihood; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the other steps taken by the Government to  improve the conditions of Anganwadi workers in discharging their duties?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) There are 189796 Anganwadi centers operating in 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

(b) Anganwadi  Services  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  and  the  administration, management & monitoring regarding implementation of the Anganwadi Services is being done  by  the  concerned  State  Government/UT  Administration.   The matters  related  to recruitment  of  personnel  to  fill  the  unfilled  vacancies  fall  under  the  ambit  of  the  State Government/ UT Administration

(c) to (d)    Government of India increases the honorarium of AWWs/ AWHs from time to time. 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.

For   improving  the  working  condition  and  for  the  welfare  of  Anganwadi Workers/ Anganwadi Helpers (AWWs/AWHs), Government is taking following steps:

(i)    Improvement  in  infrastructure:  Under  the  revised  Scheme,  Mission  Saksham ANganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0), there is a provision of upgradation of 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) as Saksham Anganwadis 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 learning 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  Centres with the availability of an Anganwadi Helper.

(ii)   Leveraging IT through Poshan Tracker: Under the revised Scheme, 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  &  Child  Development  on  1st  March,  2021  as  an  important governance  tool.   Anganwadi  Workers  have  been  technologically  empowered  with smartphones (approx 11 lakh). The mobile application has digitized and automated the physical registers used by AWWs which has also helped in improving their quality of work.

(iii)  Promotion Avenues: 50% posts of AWWs 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.

(iv)   Capacity Building:  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.

(v)   Social Security Insurance Schemes: This Ministry has provided insurance benefits 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 BimaYojana 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, this Ministry 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 (General component).

(vi)   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.

(vii)   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 on voluntary.

The age of entry to the Scheme is 18-40 years. PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme on 50:50 basis where prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government for availing the assured pension of ₹3,000/- per month on attaining the age of 60 years.

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