Payment of Honorarium to Anganwadi Worker / Helpers
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 23
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2023
PAYMENT OF HONORARIUM TO ANGANWADI WORKERS/HELPERS
SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE
SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the number of workers/helpers working in Anganwadi Centres and the honorarium given to them at present, State-wise particularly in Maharashtra;
(b) the fast track plan of the Government to improve the appalling working conditions and to increase the wages of such workers;
(c) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the protest by the Anganwadi workers/helpers for increasing their honorarium and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/proposed to address the said problem/demand and provide them social security benefits including increasing their honorarium/wages and implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the data regarding death of workers/helpers during COVID-19 pandemic and the amount of compensation given to their kin?
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. 23 to be answered on 21.07.2023 regarding “Payment of Honorarium to Anganwadi Workers/Helpers”
(a) At present, there are a total of 12,93,448 Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and 11,64,178 Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) working across the country. State/UT-wise statement of number of AWWs and AWHs is placed at Annexure.
Currently, the Anganwadi Workers at main-AWCs, Anganwadi Workers at mini- Anganwadi Centres and Anganwadi Helpers are paid honorarium of Rs.4,500/- per month, Rs.3,500/- per month and Rs.2,250/- per month respectively.
There is also a provision of performance linked incentive of Rs.250/- per month to AWHs and Rs.500 to AWWs. In addition to this, States/UTs are also paying additional monetary incentives/honorarium to these functionaries from their own resources.
(b) To improve the working conditions of AWWs/AWHs, Government has taken the following steps:
(i) Honorarium: From 1st 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) Improvement in Infrastructure: 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) are being upgraded under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) as Saksham Anganwadi with improved/upgraded infrastructure in aspirational districts @40,000/- AWCs per annum upto 2025-26. In 2022-23, 41,192 AWCs have been identified for upgradation with inter alia LEDs and smart leaning and teaching aids. Besides, the cost of drinking water facilities and toilets at Anganwadi Centres have been increased from Rs 10,000/- to Rs 17,000/- and Rs 12,000/- to Rs 36,000/- respectively. For construction of Anganwadi Centres in convergence with MGNREGS, construction cost has been revised from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12 lakh per unit. Keeping in view the importance of nutrition and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services delivery, it has been decided to upgrade all mini-Anganwadi Centres to main/regular Anganwadi with the availability of an Anganwadi Helper.
(iii) 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 and Child Development on 1st March 2021 as an important governance tool. Anganwadi Workers have been technologically empowered with smartphones (approx. 11 lakh). So far, 13.9 lakh AWCs have registered on Poshan Tracker. Poshan Tracker is available in 24 languages including Hindi and English. The mobile application has digitized and automated the physical registers used by AWWs which has also helped in improving their quality of work.
(iv) Promotion Avenues: 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 fulfillment of other criteria.
(v) Capacity Building: Ministry has drafted a training schedule, involving a cascading model of training, wherein Master Trainers (namely, District Officers, Block Coordinators, and Supervisors) will be trained through NIPCCD, and the master trainers would directly train all Anganwadi Workers in the field. Further, NeGD is regularly conducting field level trainings / workshops directly for Anganwadi Workers regarding use of the Poshan Tracker Application. Multiple rounds of trainings have been held both virtually and physically, in various districts across the country.
(vi) Leave: Anganwadi Workers have been allowed paid absence of 180 days of maternity leave. Also, 20 days annual leaves are permissible.
(vii) Uniform: There is a provision for set of two Uniform (saree/suit per annum) to AWW/AWH.
(viii) 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 (covering 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, Government has decided to provide insurance cover under PMJJBY and PMSBY to AWWs/AWHs through their bank accounts and the funds towards premium payment will be released to the States/UTs on the prescribed cost sharing ratio under Anganwadi Services Scheme.
(ix) 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.
(x) 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 (PM-SYM) Pension Scheme, which is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for the unorganized sectors in the country to ensure old age protection. Under the scheme, prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary with matching contribution by the Central Government for availing the assured pension of ₹3,000/- per month on attaining the age of 60 years.
(c) & (d) Anganwadi Services is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the implementation, monitoring and administration of the Scheme is undertaken by the concerned State Governments/ UT administrations. Therefore, taking cognizance of protest by Anganwadi Workers, Government has issued necessary instructions to all States/ UTs to take appropriate measures and ensure that the services in the Anganwadi Centres are not affected due to protest. Further, States/ UTs have been requested to devise strategy for suitable engagement with protesting organizations for smooth and uninterrupted implementation of the Scheme.
(e) The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), insurance scheme for Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19’ was launched on 30th 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 12th July, 2023, a total of 38 claims of Anganwadi workers have been settled under the scheme and an amount of Rs. 19,00,00,000/- has been disbursed @ Rs. 50,00,000/- per claim.
ANNEXURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.23 FOR ANSWER ON 21.07.2023
|
No |
|||
|
S.No. |
Name of States/UTs |
AWC WORKER |
AWC HELPER |
|
1 |
Andhra Pradesh |
55105 |
47493 |
|
2 |
Bihar |
112094 |
103141 |
|
3 |
Chhattisgarh |
50197 |
43733 |
|
4 |
Goa |
1211 |
1186 |
|
5 |
Gujarat |
51545 |
47781 |
|
6 |
Haryana |
24269 |
22010 |
|
7 |
Himachal Pradesh |
18641 |
17793 |
|
8 |
Jammu & Kashmir |
25900 |
25165 |
|
9 |
Jharkhand |
37797 |
35235 |
|
10 |
Karnataka |
65703 |
58733 |
|
11 |
Kerala |
33115 |
32986 |
|
12 |
Madhya Pradesh |
95763 |
82020 |
|
13 |
Maharashtra |
93513 |
80902 |
|
14 |
Orissa |
73351 |
65981 |
|
15 |
Punjab |
25984 |
21200 |
|
16 |
Rajasthan |
60494 |
54216 |
|
17 |
Tamil Nadu |
44070 |
39834 |
|
18 |
Telangana |
33923 |
28662 |
|
19 |
Uttar Pradesh |
154342 |
132671 |
|
20 |
Uttarakhand |
14947 |
14947 |
|
21 |
West Bengal |
104451 |
99509 |
|
22 |
A&N Island |
720 |
689 |
|
23 |
Chandigarh |
439 |
447 |
|
24 |
Dadra & Nagar Haveli/ Daman & Diu |
405 |
337 |
|
25 |
Lakshadweep |
59 |
59 |
|
26 |
Delhi |
10434 |
10674 |
|
27 |
Puducherry |
740 |
781 |
|
28 |
Arunachal Pradesh |
6225 |
6225 |
|
29 |
Assam |
62050 |
56591 |
|
30 |
Manipur |
11384 |
9875 |
|
31 |
Meghalaya |
5896 |
4630 |
|
32 |
Mizoram |
2244 |
2244 |
|
33 |
Nagaland |
3980 |
3980 |
|
34 |
Sikkim |
1308 |
1308 |
|
35 |
Tripura |
10038 |
10038 |
|
36 |
Ladakh |
1111 |
1102 |
|
Total |
1293448 |
1164178 |
|
Source: Click here to view/download PDF
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