Lok Sabha Question No. 5597 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Difficulties Faced by AWWs and AWHs
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Satpal Brahamchari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5597 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026

## DIFFICULTIES FACED BY AWWs AND AWHs

## 5597.   SHRI SATPAL BRAHAMCHARI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Ministry  is  aware  that  Anganwadi  Workers  (AWWs)  and  Anganwadi Helpers  (AWHs)  in  the  Sonipat  Lok  Sabha  constituency  are  facing  difficulties concerning their honorarium, training and working facilities, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the total number of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers currently operational in the said constituency along with the details of vacant posts;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any special measures to enhance their honorarium, social security coverage, training and overall working conditions; and
- (d) whether  the  National  Commission  for  Women  (NCW)  has  established  any  specific initiative  or  monitoring  mechanism  for  the  redressal  of  grievances  and  complaints related to Anganwadi Workers, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d):  Anganwadi  Workers  (AWWs)  and  Anganwadi  Helpers  (AWHs)  are  honorary workers  drawn  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. This honorarium is increased from time to time. From 1st 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 and AWHs from Rs.1,500/- to Rs.2,250/- per month as per the defined cost sharing ratio between the Centre and States and UTs. In addition, States and UTs are also paying additional monetary incentives and top ups to these functionaries from their own resources which vary from State to State.

Besides,  performance  linked  incentive  of  Rs.500/-  per  month  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 delivery of services.

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 AWWs and AWHs have been enhanced. 50% posts of AWWs are to be filled by AWHs with 5 years of experience and 50% posts of Supervisors are to be filled by promotion of AWWs with 5 years of experience subject to fulfilment of other criteria.
- ii. Leave: 20 days' annual leave and paid maternity absence of 180 days and 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 sector in the country to ensure old age protection.
- iv. Social Security Insurance Schemes: Insurance benefits have been provided to AWWs and AWHs 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 AWWs and AWHs 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 AWWs and AWHs in pursuance to budget announcement in FY 2024-25.

Poshan  Bhi  Padhai  Bhi  (PBPB)  initiative  launched  on  10 th May  2023  under  the  Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 to enhance early learning through the Anganwadi system, for children from birth to 6 years. A two-tier cascaded training model is being implemented, wherein  State  Level  Master  Trainers  (SLMTs)  are  being  trained  through  Savitribai  Phule National  Institute  of  Women  and  Child  Development  (SPNIWCD)  who  in  turn  train Anganwadi Workers in the field.  AWWs have been trained in Early Child Care and Education (ECCE) pedagogy and delivery of nutritional services. The training intends to build capacity of the AWW in delivery of quality ECCE.

As  on  16 th March,  2026,  41,648  State  Level  Master  Trainers  (SLMTs)  and  10,40,590 Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) have been trained in Round-1 of Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) Programme.

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 of the scheme.

As per Poshan Tracker, as on February, 2026, a total of 1,249 AWWs and 1,135 AWHs are in position in Sonipat district of State of Haryana. District wise data of in position Anganwadi Workers  for  all  States  and  UTs  is  available  on  Poshan  Tracker  public  dashboard  at: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics.

National Commission for Women (NCW) examines complaints relating to the deprivation of women's rights, as well as issues concerning the safety and security of women, in accordance with its mandate. While such complaints are registered under broad categories, the NCW does not maintain specific data pertaining exclusively to complaints filed by Anganwadi workers.

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