Lok Sabha Question No. 1041 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Health Conditions of AWWs
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1041

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2025

## HEALTH CONDITIONS OF AWWS

## 1041.   SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:

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

- (a) whether any measures are being taken up by the Government for the upkeep of the health conditions  of  Anganwadi  Workers  (AWWs), including body-mass-index, fasting blood sugar and cholesterol levels, in Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  number  of  AWWs  screened  for  non-communicable  diseases  such  as  diabetes, hypertension,  dyslipidemia  and  anemia,  against  the  number  of  positive  cases  in  each category, State-wise, especially in Maharashtra;
- (c) the number of AWWs screened for women specific issues such as cervical and menstrual cancer; and
- (d) whether the Goverment has any dedicated plan for AWWs, to address occupational health, mental stress, workload, poor toilet and sanitary facilities at AWCs, if so, the details of all the mechanisms in place/under consideration along with the funds allocated and disbursed therefor and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) 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 and 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; AWHs from Rs.1,500/- to Rs.2,250/- per month as per the defined cost sharing ratio between the Centre & States and UTs. In addition, States and UTs are also paying additional monetary incentives/top ups to these functionaries from their own resources which vary from State to State.

Besides,  performance  linked  incentive  of  Rs.500/-  is  provided  to  AWWs  and  Rs.250/-  per month to AWHs.

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. 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.
- iv. Annual Healthcare coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to all eligible Anganwadi workers and helpers.

In order to improve the infrastructure facility of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) various steps have been undertaken by the Ministry that, inter alia, include increasing the funding for drinking water  facilities  and  toilets  at  Anganwadi  Centres  from  Rs.10,000/-  to  Rs.17,000/-  and Rs.12,000/- to Rs.36,000/- respectively.

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