Lok Sabha Question No. 2114 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: AWWs and AWHs under POSHAN Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Ricky Andrew J Syngkon

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2114

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025

## AWWS AND AWHS UNDER POSHAN SCHEME

## 2114.  DR. RICKY ANDREW J SYNGKON:

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

- (a) whether the Government is considering a proposal to increase the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers engaged under the POSHAN scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, including the proposed  amount  and  timeline for implementation;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  representations  from  states  or  worker associations demanding wage revision in view of rising cost of living and workload, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the measures being taken to improve the working conditions, ensure timely payment and extend social security benefits such as health insurance, pension and maternity benefits to POSHAN workers?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Currently no such proposal is under consideration. Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored scheme. The Central Government is responsible for policy and planning and the State Governments/UT Administrations are responsible for day-to-day program implementation. 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. Honorarium is given to AWWs and AWHs 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 & States/UTs.

Besides, performance linked incentive of Rs.500/- is 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) 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: 20 days annual leave and paid maternity absence of 180 days, paid absence on abortion/ miscarriage once for 45 days.
- (iii)  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.
- (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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