Anganwadi Workers

Measures taken to improve the working conditions of Anganwadi Workers 


The common goal of Early Childhood Education (ECE) and primary education is to prepare the child for further advancement in the educational system. The curriculum and pedagogy in Early Childhood Education are intended to provide opportunities to stimulate the different domains of development and to facilitate transition to the formal education system. 

The Ministry of Women & Child Development, the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the State Governments have worked closely with each other to develop the National ECCE Policy with the National Curriculum Framework and a Quality Standard Framework for ECCE. The latter provides minimum specifications for infrastructure, indoor and outdoor spaces, developmentally and age appropriate curriculum, adequate play materials, trained staff and facilities for drinking water, toilets and safety in the ECCE centres. 

At the implementation level, the respective Departments are expected to build on the conceptual synergies and promote approaches that will enable children to make the transition easily from the Anganwadis to the school system and to make them better learners. 

The convergence in many instances has been facilitated by co-location of Anganwadi Centres and primary school campus or establishment of Anganwadi Centres in close proximity with schools. 

The measures taken to improve the working conditions of Anganwadi Workers are as follows:- 

The Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) are paid honorarium @ Rs.3000/- and Rs.1500/- per month respectively w.e.f. 01-04-2011. Recently, the honorarium of AWWs of Mini AWCs has been increased from Rs.1500/- to Rs. 2250/- w.e.f. 04-07-2013. Apart from these, additional amount of honoraria are also paid by most of the State Governments / UT Administrations from their own resources. 

Besides, these functionaries are also extended the following benefits/facilities:- 

• 20 days casual leave per year

• Paid absence on maternity of 180 days

• Provision of uniform and name badge

• Reservation of 25% of vacant posts of Supervisors for Anganwadi Workers

• Recruitment of 25 % of Anganwadi Workers from amongst AWHs

• Insurance cover under the Anganwadi Karyakartri Bima Yojana

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today. 

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Scheme for One Stop Centre for Women approved with a project cost of Rs. 18.58 crore in the current year 

The scheme for One Stop Centre for Women has been recently approved i.e. on 4th March, 2015 with total project cost of Rs. 18.58 crore for implementation through States/UTs from 1st April 2015 to facilitating/providing medical aid, police assistance, legal counselling/court case management, psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence. The Scheme envisages establishment of 1 One Stop Centre in each State/UT in the first phase. The States have been requested for proposals in order to release funds. 

Under the scheme of One Stop Centre, it has been envisaged to integrate these Centres with Women Helpline (181) and other existing helplines. 

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today. 

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Universalisation of Women Helpline approved this year with a total project cost of 69.49 crore 

The Scheme for Universalisation of Women Helpline has been recently approved i.e. on 19th February, 2015 with a total project cost Rs. 69.49 crore for implementation through States/UTs from 1st April 2015. The scheme envisages to provide 24 hour emergency and non-emergency response to all women affected by violence both in public and private sphere, including in the family, community, workplace etc. 

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today. 

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4 Swadhar Homes and 1 Short Stay Home functioning at Vrindavan with the support of the Ministry of Women and Child Development 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India provides financial assistance for setting up and maintenance of Swadhar Homes and Short Stay Homes for the benefit of women in distress including widows. Presently, at Vrindavan, 4 Swadhar Homes and 1 Short Stay Home are functioning with support of the Ministry. Under these shelter homes free shelter, food, medical care, clothing, counseling etc. are provided to the beneficiaries. 

The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the Order dated 20.2.2015 in Writ Petition (Civil) No.659 of 2007 (Environment & Consumer Protection Foundation Vs. Union of India and Others) appointed the Principal Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh as the Nodal Officer to look into various reports and take action to ameliorate the problems and difficulties of the widows in Vrindavan. The Nodal Officer is directed, among other things, to formulate a plan of action to ameliorate the condition of widows. 

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today. 

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7067 projects operational under the ICDS Scheme in the country as on 13.12.2014 

As per schematic norms of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Anganwadi Centres (AWCs)/ mini-AWCs provide a package of six services namely (i) supplementary nutrition, (ii) non-formal pre-school education (iii) nutrition and health education, (iv) immunization, (v) health check-up and (vi) referral services of which three later services are provided in convergence with public health systems of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

There are 7067 operational Projects since inception of the scheme in 1975, under the ICDS Scheme in the country as on 31.12.2014. Similarly, there are 13.42 lakh operational AWCs in the country as on 31.12.2014. 

There are 10.41 crore beneficiaries comprising 8.43 crore children (in age group 6 months to 6 years) and 1.98 crore pregnant women & lactating mothers who received supplementary nutrition at these projects and AWCs as on 31.12.2014. Further, 3.50 crore children (in age group 3-6 years) attended pre-school education at these projects and AWCs as on 31.12.2014. 

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today. 

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Women beneficiaries (pregnant & lactating mothers) of supplementary nutrition under ICDS Scheme 

The Union Ministry of Women & Child Development is implementing the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme through the State Governments/UT Administrations across the country. The scheme aims at holistic development of children below six years of age and pregnant and lactating mothers. A package of six services is provided under this scheme including Supplementary Nutrition to address the nutritional issues of children and Pregnant & Lactating mothers. The details of supplementary nutrition programme under the ICDS Scheme are as under:

Beneficiaries	Calories (cal)	Protein (g)
Children (6 months to 72 months)	500	12-15
Severely malnourished children (6 months-72 months)	800	20-25
Pregnant women and lactating mothers	600	18-20

During the last three years, 1.82 crore (2012-13), 1.96 crores (2013-14) and 1.98 crores (2014-15, as on 31.12.2014) women beneficiaries (pregnant & lactating mothers) availed the supplementary nutrition under the ICDS Scheme.

Ministry of Women & Child Development is implementing Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY), Conditional Maternity Benefit (CMB), a centrally sponsored scheme for pregnant and lactating (P&L) women to improve their health & nutrition status by providing cash incentives to pregnant and lactating mothers. The scheme is being implemented in 53 selected districts across the country. The structures under the ICDS are being used as the platform for implementation of IGMSY. This is supported by dedicated IGMSY cells created at the State and District level.


This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today.