Lok Sabha Question No. 1995 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-06
Subject: Policy for Regular Appointment of Anganwadi Workers
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Devesh Chandra Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1995

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2024

## POLICY FOR REGULAR APPOINTMENT OF ANGANWADI WORKERS

## 1995.   SHRI DEVESH CHANDRA THAKUR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  representation  from  the  Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers regarding their appointment, regular policy regarding  their  service  conditions  and  benefits  at  par  with  the  Government servants;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether their demands are still lying pending with the Government;
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the  time  by  which  decision  is  likely  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e):  Mission  Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0  is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, its implementation falls in the ambit of State Government/ UT Administration. The Scheme aims to address the challenge of child malnutrition and maternal undernutrition through delivery of proper nutrition content. It further aims to create conditions and a convergent eco-system to develop practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity.

Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers are 'honorary workers' from the local community who come forward to render their services on part-time basis in the area of child care and development.

Under Mission Poshan 2.0, administration, management  and monitoring  regarding implementation of various components of the Scheme including terms and conditions of service of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) fall in the scope of the State Governments/UT Administrations.

State/  UTs  have been  requested  time  and again  through  sustained  engagements, video conferences and advisories not to involve Anganwadi Workers/ Helpers in work not related to the scheme so that their time could be better utilized for more effective implementation of the scheme.

Government of India increased the honorarium of AWWs and AWHs from 1st October, 2018. At present, the honorarium of AWW at main Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) is

Rs.4,500/-  per  month;  AWW  at  mini-  AWCs  is  Rs.3,500/-  per  month  and  AWH  is Rs.2,250/- per month. Besides, performance linked incentive of Rs.250/- per month is provided to AWHs and Rs.500/- provided 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.

With a view to incentivize and encourage the Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers, various steps/initiatives have been undertaken including the following:

- i. 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.
- 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. 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) to AWWs/AWHs 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.
- iv. 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
- v. 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 (PMSYM) Pension Scheme, which is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for the unorganized sectors in the country to ensure old age protection.
- vi. Retirement  date:  States/  UTs  have  been  requested  to  adopt  a  uniform retirement date i.e 30th April of each year with respect to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers to ensure proper human resource planning.
- vii. It has been announced in the interim budget FY 2024-25 to extend healthcare annual coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to all Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Further, Ministry has issued orders for upgradation of all mini-AWC to regular AWCs. This would add an Anganwadi Helper in these Mini Anganwadi Centres across the country to share the burden of Anganwadi Worker.

Besides under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, IT systems have been leveraged  to  reduce  the  workload  through  Poshan  Tracker  which  has  digitized  & automated nine physical registers out of eleven prepared and used by AWWs.

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