Lok Sabha Question No. 1054 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Benefits to AWWs and AWHs
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1054

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025

## BENEFITS TO AWWS AND AWHS

## 1054. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Anganwadi  Workers  (AWWs)  and  Helpers  (AWHs)  are  officially classified as 'volunteers' who get an 'honorarium', if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether these AWWs and AWHs get maternity leave, pension and other benefits as the Government employees, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  plans  to  consider  AWWs  and  AWHs  as  Government employees, if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a) to (c) Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) 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 local community for which they are paid  honorarium  which  is  increased  from  time  to  time.  From  1 st   October,  2018, Government of  India  has  enhanced  the  honorarium  of  AWWs  at  Anganwadi  centres (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  as  per  the defined cost sharing ratio between the centre & the States/UTs.

Besides,  performance  linked  incentive  of  Rs.500/-  is  also  provided  to  AWWs  and Rs.250/- per month to AWHs. In addition, States/UTs are also paying additional monetary incentives/top ups to these voluntary workers from their own resources which vary from State to State.

Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, AWWs have been technologically empowered  with  the  provision  of  smartphones  for  efficient  monitoring  and  service delivery. Poshan Tracker which is a mobile phone application that has digitized physical registers  used  by  Anganwadi  workers.  This  improves  the  quality  of  their  work  while simultaneously enabling them for real-time monitoring of  all activities  going  on  in  the Anganwadis.

To  incentivize  and  encourage  the  AWWs  and  AWHs,  various  initiatives  have  been undertaken including the following:

- i. Leave: 20 days' annual leave and paid maternity absence of 180 days, paid absence on abortion/ miscarriage once for 45 days.
- ii. State  Governments  and  UT  Administrations  have  been  requested  to  encourage eligible  AWWs  and  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.
- iii. Promotion : Under  Mission  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0,  promotional opportunities for Anganwadi Workers have been enhanced. 50% posts of Anganwadi Workers are to be filled by Anganwadi Helpers with 5 years of experience and 50% posts of Supervisors are to be filled by promotion of Anganwadi Workers with 5 years of experience subject to fulfilment of other criteria.
- iv. 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 worth Rs.2.00 lakh (covers life risk, death due to any reason) in the age group of 18 to 50 years and under 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) in the age group of 18-59 years.
- v. Retirement date: States and 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.
- vi. Annual Healthcare coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to all Anganwadi workers and helpers in pursuance to budget announcement in FY 2024-25.

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