MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a) Government of India had approved 14 lakh AnganwadiCentres (AWCs) including 116848 Mini-AWCs and 20000 Anganwadi-
on-demand (AoD) as a whole. These AWCs/ mini-AWCs/ AODs have not been approved State-wise. The gap between the number
of sanctioned and operational AnganwadiCentres (AWCs) and Mini-AnganwadiCentres (MAWCs) has been reduced from 104509
in 2010-11 to 66107 in 2011-12 and to 34,617 in 2012-13 and further reduced to 34,937 (including 1586 additional AWCs/
AWC-on-demand sanctioned on 25.09.2013 by GOI) in the country. State-wise details are given at Annex-I.
As per Schematic norms of the ICDS Scheme, Government of India is responsible for the Planning & Policy issues whereas State
Governments are responsible for the implementation of the Scheme. The reasons for gap between the sanctioned and operational
AWCs and MAWCs across the country are largely due to administrative, procedural and legal delays by the State Governments/UT
Administrations. Ministry of WCD has repeatedly impressed upon the State Governments/UT Administrations to take all required
measures for early operationalisation of sanctioned AWCs/ mini-AWCs.
(b) The proportion/ percentage of AWCs and MAWCs operating/ running from rented buildings/ pukka &kutcha buildings/open
space etc., as on 31.12.2012, are as under :
Type of Building
Kutcha Pucca Total
Total AWCs reporting 1203365
- Govt. Own Building 0.04% 30.04% 30.08%
- Rented
AWWs/ AWHs House 0.84% 4.40% 5.24%
Others 11.42% 16.23% 27.65%
- Community
School 0.00% 22.33% 22.33%
Panchayat 0.05% 3.89% 3.94%
Others 2.48% 7.10% 9.58%
Open Space 0.91% 0.27% 1.18%
Total 15.74% 84.26%
State-wise details are given at Annex-II.
About 50.28% AWCs are reported to have toilet facilities, 71.05% AWCs have drinking water facilities within the
premises and 28.34% AWCs have separate kitchen as on 31.12.2012. State-wise details are given at Annex-III.
(c) Details of funds released and expenditure reported by States/ UTs under ICDS (General), Supplementary Nutrition (SNP)
and ICDS Training during each of the last three years and the current year viz. 2010-11 to 2013-14 (up to 28.11.2013) is as
under:
(Rs.in crore)
Year Funds Released Expenditure reported by States/ UTs
2010-11 9763.11 15337.97
2011-12 14272.21 19196.47
2012-13 15701.49 21649.81
2013-14 13235.79 6938.11
(up to 28.11.2013)
(d) The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme envisages the Anganwadi Workers &Anganwadi Helpers as “honorary
workers†from the local community who come forward to render their services, on part time basis, in the area of child care
and development. Being honorary workers, they are paid monthly honoraria as decided by Government from time to time. No
proposal to bring the said workers at par with the Government employees in terms of salary, allowances and other facilities,
is under consideration of the Government. Continuous efforts have, however, been made to improve their working conditions
by extending facilities such as paid absence on maternity, insurance cover under the AnganwadiKaryakartriBimaYojana,
reservation of 25% of vacant posts of Supervisors for Anganwadi Workers, recruitment of 25% of Anganwadi Workers from
Anganwadi Helpers etc. Recently, the honorarium of AWWs in Mini-AWCs has been increased from Rs. 1500/- to Rs. 2250/-
w.e.f. 04.07.2013.
(e) The implementation of ICDS Scheme is continuously monitored through prescribed monthly & annual progress reports,reviews,
as well as, supervision visits etc. Based on the inputs and feedback received, State Governments/ UT Administrations are
addressed through letters and review meetings to address the deficiencies and to improve the implementation of the Scheme
including operationalisation of AWCs and MAWCs to bridge the gap, infrastructure and facilities like availability of toilet,
drinking water, separate kitchen and medicine kits at the AWCs.
Drinking water and sanitation facilities are being provided in AnganwadiCentres in convergence with the Schemes of the
Department of Drinking Water Supply under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and the Total Sanitation
Campaign (TSC). Such convergence has been advocated from Central and State levels. A joint letter under the signatures
of Secretary, WCD and Secretary, Department of Drinking Water Supply was issued to all the States/UTs on 10.2.2010 advising
the States/UTs to create synergies at different levels to further the objectives of TSC and ICDS.
To facilitate and to augment convergence between the ICDS and TSC, the Ministry has also issued a letterto the Secretaries
in charge of ICDS in all States/UTs urging them to utilize the TSC funds for construction of Baby Friendly Toilets in AWCs
operating out of Govt. buildings and also in private buildings by utilizing the revolving fund component under the TSC.
The Ministry of Rural Development has also been addressed to provide potable water at the AWCs under the Rajiv Gandhi
Drinking Water Mission.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme did not have provision for construction of AWC buildings under the
scheme as this was envisaged to be provided by the community except for the North Eastern States for which financial
support was being provided for construction of AWC buildings since 2001-02 at a unit cost of Rs.1.75 lakh.
States have been requested to tap the funds for this from various schemes such as MPLADs, MLALADS, BRGF, RIDF, Panchayati
Raj, NREGA and Tribal Affairs, Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) of Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), under
SSA, Finance Commission, Additional Central Assistance under State Plan, Integrated Action Plan, etc.
The Government has approved strengthening and restructuring of ICDS to improve services and the facilities at AWCs which
inter-alia provides for construction, upgradation& maintenance of AWC buildings, weighing machines, kitchenwares&utencils,
pre-school & medicine kits, furniture etc. As a part of Strengthening and Restructuring of ICDS Scheme, Government has
approved a provision for construction of 2 lakh Anganwadi Centre buildings @ Rs.4.5 lakh per unit and upgradation of 2
lakh AWC buildings @ Rs 1 lakh per unit during XII Plan period in a phased manner with cost sharing ratio of 75 : 25
between Centre and State other than the NER, where it will be at 90 : 10. Also recently, the Ministry of Rural Development
(MORD) has included construction of AWCs as an eligible authorised activity in the list of new works permitted under MGNREGA.
