Lok Sabha Question No. 78 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Anganwadi Centres in Maharashtra
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 78

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2024

## ANGANWADI CENTRES IN MAHARASHTRA

78. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received proposal for opening new Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) under ICDS scheme in newly urbanised area in Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof, district wise;
- (b) the total number of proposals received from Satara District of Maharashtra for opening of new AWCs;
- (c) the number of new AWCs established in Maharashtra since 2019, year wise;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the demand from Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for an increase in their remuneration, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the  grant  provided  by  the  Union  Government  for  payment  of  each  AWW, categorized by their designation; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  have  the  plan  to  extend  all  the  benefits  given  to Government employees to AWWs?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c)  In the 15 th  FC, components of nutritional support for children below the age of 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers, Adolescent Girls (14 - 18 years); Early Childhood Care and Education [3-6 years]; Anganwadi infrastructure including modern,  upgraded  Saksham  Anganwadi,  Poshan  Abhiyaan  and  Scheme  for Adolescent  Girls  have  been  reorganised  under  Mission  Saksham  Anganwadi  and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0).

In order to rationalise the number of Anganwadi centres across the country vis-à-vis the registered beneficiaries, Government of India has, time and again, requested all States/  UTs  to  re-visit  the  issue  of  availability  of  AWCs  at  habitation  level  and determine the actual AWCs working therein. Further, the Government has decided to upgrade all Mini AWCs with one worker to a full-fledged Anganwadi Centre with one worker and one helper. The approval for upgradation of all 13011 Mini Anganwadis in Maharashtra as full-fledged Anganwadi Centres has been accorded to the State. To improve infrastructure at the existing AWCs, various efforts have been made.

Directions have been issued to States/UTs to co-locate Anganwadi Centres, which are running on rent  without  sufficient  infrastructure,  at  nearby  Primary  Schools,  where space is available.

Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, beginning from FY 2021-22, 50000 AWCs building are to be constructed over a period of five years @10000 AWCs per year. The cost norms for construction of Anganwadi Centres in convergence with MGNREGS have been revised from Rs.7 Lakh per AWC to Rs.12 Lakh per AWC wherein Rs.8.00 Lakh would be provided under MGNREGS, Rs.2.00 Lakh under 15 th 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.  Further, States/UTs have also been advised 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. During  the  15 th   Finance  Commission  cycle,  2  lakh  Anganwadi  Centres  @  40,000 AWCs per year are to be upgraded as Saksham Anganwadis for improved nutrition delivery  and  for  early  childhood  care  and development.  Saksham Anganwadis are proposed to be provided with better infrastructure than the conventional Anganwadi Centres including internet/Wi-Fi connectivity, LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine and equipped with smart learning equipment. 1150 AWCs have been approved  for  upgradation  to  Saksham  AWCs  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra  during financial year 2022-23.

(d) to (f)  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. Government of India releases funds in the prescribed cost sharing ratio to the States/ UTs for implementation of the scheme. Government of India constantly monitors  and  reviews  the  scheme  and  its  components  and  based  on  learnings, outcomes,  suggestions  and  proposals,  Government  takes  appropriate  action  from time to time through sustained engagements/ video conferences with States/ UTs. Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers are 'honorary workers' from the local community who come forward to render their services in the area of child care and development to help the community for which they are paid honorarium. Government of India increases the honorarium of AWWs/AWHs from time to time. 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 for 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. The additional Honorarium provided by the States/UTs is placed at Annexure . At present no proposal is under consideration to increase the honorarium of AWWs/ AWHs.

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. 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.
- iii. Uniform : There is a provision for set of two uniforms (saree/suit per annum) to AWW/AWH.
- iv. Social Security Insurance Schemes: Insurance benefits have been provided to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti BimaYojana (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.
- v. 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.
- vi. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM ): State  Governments/UT Administrations have been requested to encourage eligible AWWs/AWHs to enroll themselves 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.
- vii. 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.
- viii. 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 & Child Development on 1 st  March, 2021 as an important governance tool. Anganwadi Workers have been technologically empowered with  smart  phones.  The mobile  application has digitized  and automated the physical  registers  used  by  AWWs  which  has  also  helped  in  improving  their quality of work. Under Poshan Abhiyaan, for the first time, a digital revolution was ushered when the Anganwadi worker was empowered with mobile devices. To  capture  the  real  time  data  in  POSHAN  Tracker  application,  internet connectivity charges to AWWs are provided @₹2000/-per annum per AWW.
- ix. Government has issued orders for upgradation for mini-AWC to regular AWCs. Due to this, the honorarium of AWWs of existing mini AWCs, have increased to Rs.4,500/- p.m.

******

Annexure Statement referred to in reply to Part (d) to (f) of Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No.  78  to  be  answered  on  02.02.2024  regarding  'Anganwadi  Centres  in Maharashtra' by SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL :

## Statement indicating additional honorarium  given by the States/UTs to AWWs/AWHs from their own resources

| S. No.   | States/UTs                         | Additional honorarium given by States/UTs (In Rs.)   | Additional honorarium given by States/UTs (In Rs.)   |
|----------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.   | States/UTs                         | Anganwadi Workers (AWW)                              | Anganwadi Helper (AWH)                               |
| 1.       | Andaman & Nicobar                  | 3000                                                 | 2500                                                 |
| 2.       | Andhra Pradesh                     | 7000                                                 | 4750                                                 |
| 3.       | Arunachal Pradesh                  | Nil                                                  | Nil                                                  |
| 4.       | Assam                              | 2000                                                 | 1000                                                 |
| 5.       | Bihar                              | 1450                                                 | 725                                                  |
| 6.       | Chandigarh                         | 3600                                                 | 1800                                                 |
| 7.       | Chhattisgarh                       | 2000                                                 | 1000                                                 |
| 8.       | Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 1000                                                 | 600                                                  |
| 9.       | Delhi                              | 5178                                                 | 2589                                                 |
| 10.      | Goa                                | 5500-13500*                                          | 3750-6750*                                           |
| 11.      | Gujarat                            | 5500                                                 | 3250                                                 |
| 12.      | Haryana                            | 7286-8429*                                           | 4215                                                 |
| 13.      | Himachal Pradesh                   | 4600                                                 | 2450                                                 |
| 14.      | Jammu & Kashmir                    | 600                                                  | 340                                                  |
| 15.      | Jharkhand                          | 5000                                                 | 2500                                                 |
| 16.      | Karnataka                          | 6500-7000*                                           | 4000-4500*                                           |
| 17.      | Kerala                             | 2000                                                 | 2000                                                 |
| 18.      | Lakshadweep                        | 5500                                                 | 4750                                                 |
| 19.      | Madhya Pradesh                     | 7000                                                 | 3500                                                 |
| 20.      | Maharashtra                        | 3825                                                 | 2175                                                 |
| 21.      | Manipur                            | 1000                                                 | 600                                                  |
| 22.      | Meghalaya                          | 1500                                                 | 1000                                                 |
| 23.      | Odisha                             | 1000                                                 | 500                                                  |
| 24.      | Puducherry                         | 600                                                  | 300                                                  |
| 25.      | Punjab                             | 5000                                                 | 2850                                                 |
| 26.      | Rajasthan                          | 3891-4030*                                           | 2640                                                 |
| 27.      | Sikkim                             | 2225                                                 | 1500                                                 |
| 28.      | Uttarakhand                        | 3000                                                 | 1500                                                 |
| 29.      | West Bengal                        | 3750                                                 | 4050                                                 |
| 30.      | Uttar Pradesh                      | 1500                                                 | 750                                                  |
| 31.      | Nagaland                           | Nil                                                  | Nil                                                  |
| 32.      | Mizoram                            | 450                                                  | 500                                                  |
| 33.      | Tamil nadu                         | 3200-19700*                                          | 1850-10250*                                          |
| 34.      | Telangana                          | 9150                                                 | 5550                                                 |
| 35.      | Tripura                            | 150-5346*                                            | 93-3518*                                             |
| 36.      | Ladakh                             | 1300                                                 | 650                                                  |