Lok Sabha Question No. 189 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Welfare of Anganwadi Workers
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *189

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## WELFARE OF ANGANWADI WORKERS

*189.  SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU: Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any study/research/survey regarding the social welfare and economic well-being of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) in the country, especially in Andhra Pradesh; (b) if  so,  the details regarding various welfare schemes/initiatives undertaken by the Government for AWWs in the country, especially in Andhra Pradesh during the last four years; (c) the quantum of funds allotted, dispensed and utilized by States including Andhra Pradesh for welfare and economic well-being of AWWs during the last four years; (c) the details regarding the total number of AWWs who have been covered under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package over the last three years, State/UTwise especially from Andhra Pradesh; and whether the  Government  has  undertaken  any  survey/inquiry  into  the  issues faced by the AWWs in the said State, especially about their wages and the

- (d) implementation of the Face Recognition Software, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
- *****

## Statement referred to in reply to Part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.  189  to  be  answered  on  15.12.2023  regarding  'Welfare  of  Anganwadi Workers'

(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 impact of Anganwadi Services  scheme  satisfactory.  Review  of  the  scheme  and  its  components  is  a continuous process and based on learnings, outcomes, suggestions and proposals, Government takes appropriate action from time to time. 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 have been reorganised  under  Mission  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0  for  effective implementation of the scheme and for better nutritional delivery to end beneficiaries. For the welfare of Anganwadi Workers across the country various steps/ initiatives have been undertaken including the following:

- i. Honorarium and incentives: 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 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.
- ii. 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.
- iii. 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.
- iv. Uniform : There is a provision for set of two uniforms (saree/suit per annum) to AWW/AWH.
- v. 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.

- 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 enroll under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PMSYM) Pension Scheme, which is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for the unorganized sectors in the country to ensure old age protection.
- viii. 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.
- ix. 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  smartphones.  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.

Details of the funds allotted, dispensed and utilized by States including Andhra Pradesh  under  Anganwadi  Services  (General)  (which  includes  honorarium/social security benefit/incentives etc. to AWWs) is placed at Annexure I .

The 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), insurance scheme for Health  Care  Workers  Fighting  COVID-19'  was  launched  on  30 th   March,  2020  to provide comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs.50 lakh to 22.12 lakh health care providers including community health workers and private health workers who may have been in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and may have been exposed to risk of being impacted.

Till 11 th  December 2023, a total of 64 claims of Anganwadi workers have been settled under the scheme and an amount of Rs. 32,00,00,000/- has been disbursed each  @  Rs.  50,00,000/-  per  claim.  Out  of  the  64  claims,  02  claims  were  paid  to beneficiaries from Andhra Pradesh.

The details of the total number of Anganwadi Workers covered under Pradhan Mantri  Garib  Kalyan  Package  State/  UT  wise  especially  from  Andhra  Pradesh  is placed at Annexure II . All  States/  UTs,  through  sustained  engagements/  video  conferences,  are requested to consider the grievances being faced by the Anganwadi Workers and resolve them on priority.

- ********

## Statement referred to in reply to Part  (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.  189  to  be  answered  on  15.12.2023  regarding  'Welfare  of  Anganwadi Workers'

## Fund released during 2019-20  (Anganwadi Services General)

(Rupees in Lakhs)

| Sl. No. State/UTs    |   Funds approved/ released |   Funds Utilized |
|----------------------|----------------------------|------------------|
| 1 ANDHRA PRADESH     |                   29729.9  |         33070.4  |
| 2 BIHAR              |                   47936.4  |         48225.2  |
| 3 CHHATTISGARH       |                   24932.8  |         24932.8  |
| 4 GOA                |                     684.14 |           869.96 |
| 5 GUJARAT            |                   32422.1  |         30313.8  |
| 6 HARYANA            |                   13106.7  |         10669.9  |
| 7 JHARKHAND          |                   19206.2  |         20568    |
| 8 KARNATAKA          |                   31422    |         35939.2  |
| 9 KERALA             |                   17534.3  |         19284.7  |
| 10 MADHYA PRADESH    |                   45573    |         55680.2  |
| 11 MAHARASHTRA       |                   50087.8  |         61188.4  |
| 12 ODISHA            |                   33428    |         37639.9  |
| 13 PUNJAB            |                   13993.1  |         13993.1  |
| 14 RAJASTHAN         |                   28231.5  |         30864.7  |
| 15 TAMIL NADU        |                   25108.2  |         28361.1  |
| 16 TELANGANA         |                   21987.2  |         20682.6  |
| 17 UTTAR PRADESH     |                   82387.6  |         92244.9  |
| 18 WEST BENGAL       |                   51069    |         54308    |
| 19 DELHI             |                    8573.36 |          6057.88 |
| 20 PUDUCHERRY        |                     453.16 |           642.63 |
| 21 HIMACHAL PRADESH  |                   16651.3  |         19090.1  |
| 22 JAMMU & KASHMIR   |                   28275.8  |         28380.4  |
| 23 UTTARAKHAND       |                   16103.2  |         17991    |
| 24 ANDAMAN & NICOBAR |                     802.54 |           802.54 |
| 25 CHANDIGARH        |                     622.16 |           622.16 |
| 26 D. & NAGAR HAVELI |                     375.9  |           375.9  |
| 27 DAMAN & DIU       |                     121.59 |           121.59 |
| 28 LAKSHADWEEP       |                      71.84 |            71.84 |
| 29 ARUNACHAL PRADESH |                    9472.2  |          9472.2  |
| 30 ASSAM             |                   57539.6  |         59830.5  |
| 31 MANIPUR           |                   10678.6  |          9858.88 |
| 32 MEGHALAYA         |                    6624.75 |          6624.75 |
| 33 MIZORAM           |                    2566.79 |          3598.47 |
| 34 NAGALAND          |                    7636.36 |          7112.36 |
| 35 SIKKIM            |                    1636.62 |          2067.21 |
| 36 TRIPURA           |                    8849.84 |          9422.53 |
| Total                |                  745896    |        800980    |

## Fund released during 2020-21 (Anganwadi Services General)

(Rupees in Lakhs)

| Sl. No. State/UTs                  |   Funds approved/released |   Funds Utilized |
|------------------------------------|---------------------------|------------------|
| 1 ANDHRA PRADESH                   |                  32145.2  |         35874.8  |
| 2 BIHAR                            |                  41451.8  |         45445.9  |
| 3 CHHATTISGARH                     |                  25841.1  |         26987.5  |
| 4 GOA                              |                   1165.27 |           892.91 |
| 5 GUJARAT                          |                  27761.3  |         29690.9  |
| 6 HARYANA                          |                  12194.6  |         11869.9  |
| 7 JHARKHAND                        |                  19750.9  |         19224.3  |
| 8 KARNATAKA                        |                  27641.8  |         35653.3  |
| 9 KERALA                           |                  18942    |         19153.6  |
| 10 MADHYA PRADESH                  |                  47631.9  |         53156    |
| 11 MAHARASHTRA                     |                  52452.5  |         57438.7  |
| 12 ODISHA                          |                  34353.2  |         38054    |
| 13 PUNJAB                          |                  12687.9  |         14216.3  |
| 14 RAJASTHAN                       |                  28231.2  |         32069.8  |
| 15 TAMIL NADU                      |                  22048.8  |         26062.2  |
| 16 TELANGANA                       |                  18408.9  |         21042.3  |
| 17 UTTAR PRADESH                   |                  59495.3  |         83636.8  |
| 18 WEST BENGAL                     |                  38757.1  |         58129.7  |
| 19 DELHI                           |                   3547.26 |          6331.49 |
| 20 PUDUCHERRY                      |                    424.39 |           251.48 |
| 21 HIMACHAL PRADESH                |                  18632.3  |         21153.6  |
| 22 JAMMU & KASHMIR                 |                  24272.5  |         37184.9  |
| 23 UTTARAKHAND                     |                  17820.8  |         17265.8  |
| 24 ANDAMAN & NICOBAR               |                   1119.01 |           119.01 |
| 25 CHANDIGARH                      |                    594.07 |           594.07 |
| 26 D. & NAGAR HAVELI & DAMAN & DIU |                    491.43 |           491.43 |
| 27 LADAKH                          |                   1885.98 |          1885.98 |
| 28 LAKSHADWEEP                     |                    113.44 |           113.44 |
| 29 ARUNACHAL PRADESH               |                   4420.82 |          2632.04 |
| 30 ASSAM                           |                  52880.3  |         52031    |
| 31 MANIPUR                         |                   6363.24 |          7993.14 |
| 32 MEGHALAYA                       |                   6044.17 |          6175.57 |
| 33 MIZORAM                         |                   5427.06 |          3580.04 |
| 34 NAGALAND                        |                   6688.44 |          6705.38 |
| 35 SIKKIM                          |                   2093.06 |          2067.21 |
| 36 TRIPURA                         |                   8734.45 |         10334.7  |
| Total                              |                 682513    |        785509    |

## Fund released during 2021-22 (Anganwadi Services General)

(Rupees in Lakhs)

| Sl. No. State/UTs                  |   Funds approved/ released |   Funds Utilized |
|------------------------------------|----------------------------|------------------|
| 1 ANDHRA PRADESH                   |                   36192.4  |         35238.8  |
| 2BIHAR                             |                   69074.1  |         68369.1  |
| 3CHHATTISGARH                      |                   33742.7  |         27918.3  |
| 4GOA                               |                     642.68 |           813.02 |
| 5GUJARAT                           |                   32817.5  |         30246.2  |
| 6HARYANA                           |                   11384.3  |         10096.4  |
| 7JHARKHAND                         |                   17702.4  |         12542.6  |
| 8KARNATAKA                         |                   42268.1  |         37227.7  |
| 9KERALA                            |                   19714.5  |         20892.3  |
| 10 MADHYA PRADESH                  |                   53208.1  |         52374.8  |
| 11MAHARASHTRA                      |                   66099.6  |         61854.6  |
| 12ODISHA                           |                   44205.3  |         41574    |
| 13PUNJAB                           |                   33821.3  |         13365.9  |
| 14RAJASTHAN                        |                   36865.4  |         33205.6  |
| 15TAMIL NADU                       |                   29201    |         28309.4  |
| 16TELANGANA                        |                   23552.1  |         22152.3  |
| 17UTTAR PRADESH                    |                  100915    |         79963.7  |
| 18WEST BENGAL                      |                   33911.1  |         58183.5  |
| 19DELHI                            |                    5465.76 |          5496.35 |
| 20PUDUCHERRY                       |                     277.8  |            91.76 |
| 21 HIMACHAL PRADESH                |                   19032.3  |         19635.6  |
| 22 JAMMU & KASHMIR                 |                   37114.9  |         33336.8  |
| 23UTTARAKHAND                      |                   20088.8  |         17867.5  |
| 24 ANDAMAN & NICOBAR               |                    1248.96 |          1099.85 |
| 25CHANDIGARH                       |                     704.95 |           704.95 |
| 26 D. & NAGAR HAVELI & DAMAN & DIU |                     523.28 |           432.63 |
| 27LADAKH                           |                    1190.35 |          1190.33 |
| 28LAKSHADWEEP                      |                      63.9  |           101.21 |
| 29 ARUNACHAL PRADESH               |                   12357.2  |         10719.4  |
| 30ASSAM                            |                   62230.3  |         69267.9  |
| 31MANIPUR                          |                   14303.3  |          9910.96 |
| 32MEGHALAYA                        |                    6281.68 |          6436.23 |
| 33MIZORAM                          |                    3315.32 |          3682.34 |
| 34NAGALAND                         |                    7232.43 |          7232.41 |
| 35SIKKIM                           |                    2269.84 |          1967.21 |
| 36TRIPURA                          |                   11789.1  |         11280    |
| Total                              |                  890808    |        834782    |

Fund released during 2022-23 (Anganwadi Services General) (Rupees in Lakhs)

| Sl. No. State/UTs                  |   Funds approved/ released* |
|------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| 1 ANDHRA PRADESH                   |                    35865    |
| 2BIHAR                             |                    68761.1  |
| 3CHHATTISGARH                      |                    31143.4  |
| 4GOA                               |                      763.13 |
| 5GUJARAT                           |                    28424.3  |
| 6HARYANA                           |                    14545.7  |
| 7JHARKHAND                         |                    19053.2  |
| 8KARNATAKA                         |                    15269.6  |
| 9KERALA                            |                    21270.2  |
| 10 MADHYA PRADESH                  |                    44170.1  |
| 11MAHARASHTRA                      |                    59178    |
| 12ODISHA                           |                    41732.2  |
| 13PUNJAB                           |                      882.31 |
| 14RAJASTHAN                        |                    31441.5  |
| 15TAMIL NADU                       |                    24698.4  |
| 16TELANGANA                        |                    21308.7  |
| 17UTTAR PRADESH                    |                    79039.1  |
| 18WEST BENGAL                      |                    54533    |
| 19DELHI                            |                     9921.39 |
| 20PUDUCHERRY                       |                        0    |
| 21 HIMACHAL PRADESH                |                    20686.3  |
| 22 JAMMU & KASHMIR                 |                    40780.6  |
| 23UTTARAKHAND                      |                    17552.3  |
| 24 ANDAMAN & NICOBAR               |                      384.23 |
| 25CHANDIGARH                       |                      832.39 |
| 26 D. & NAGAR HAVELI & DAMAN & DIU |                      116.53 |
| 27LADAKH                           |                     1253.86 |
| 28LAKSHADWEEP                      |                        0    |
| 29 ARUNACHAL PRADESH               |                     9137.98 |
| 30ASSAM                            |                    73095.8  |
| 31MANIPUR                          |                    10727.5  |
| 32MEGHALAYA                        |                     6251.47 |
| 33MIZORAM                          |                     3072.52 |
| 34NAGALAND                         |                     8346.43 |
| 35SIKKIM                           |                     1734.47 |
| 36TRIPURA                          |                     9028.11 |
| Total                              |                   805001    |

Annexure II

## Statement referred to in reply to Part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.  189  to  be  answered  on  15.12.2023  regarding  'Welfare  of  Anganwadi Workers'

| State          |   Total Claims paid to Anganwadi Workers |
|----------------|------------------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh |                                        2 |
| Assam          |                                        0 |
| Bihar          |                                        0 |
| Chhattisgarh   |                                        2 |
| Gujarat        |                                        0 |
| Haryana        |                                        0 |
| J&K            |                                        0 |
| Jharkhand      |                                        0 |
| Karnataka      |                                        2 |
| Kerala         |                                        0 |
| Madhya Pradesh |                                        0 |
| Maharashtra    |                                        1 |
| Manipur        |                                        0 |
| Odisha         |                                        0 |
| Punjab         |                                        1 |
| Rajasthan      |                                       32 |
| Telangana      |                                       24 |
| Tripura        |                                        0 |
| Uttar Pradesh  |                                        0 |
| Uttarakhand    |                                        0 |
| West Bengal    |                                        0 |
| TOTAL          |                                       64 |