Question : SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER IN ANGANWADI

(a) the number of Anganwadi supervisors/workers/helpers in the country along with the details of honorarium paid to them, State-wise;

(b) whether there is acute shortage of Anganwadi supervisors/workers/helpers across the country;

(c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise along with the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the Government has constituted any committee to review the various benefits being provided to them including revision of honorarium/minimum wages/regular Government service/pay-scale equal to primary teachers, insurance etc; and

(e) if so, the details and outcome thereof and the action taken/being taken by the Government thereon?

MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)

(a): The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is a centrally sponsored Scheme being implemented by the States/UTs. Against sanctioned number of Anagnwadi Centres by Government of India, there are 18642 vacant positions of Supervisors, 107496 vacant positions of Anganwadi Workers and 94932 vacant positions of Anganwadi Helpers across the country, as reported by States/UTs. A statement indicating state-wise position in this regard is at Annex-I.

Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers do not hold permanent post and are paid honoraria as decided by the Government from time to time. Presently, Government of India has approved honorarium to Anganwadi Workers ranging from Rs. 2938/- to Rs. 3063/- per month, depending on their educational qualifications and experience and Rs. 1500/- to Anganwadi Helpers and Workers of Mini-Anganwadi Centres, in the cost sharing ratio of 90:10 between the Centre and the States/UTs, across the country. Most of the States/UTs also provide additional honoraria to AWWs/AWHs from their own resources. As per information available from States/ UTs, a statement indicating quantum of additional honorarium being paid by the States/UTs from their resources is at Annex-II.

In so far as the Supervisors are concerned, they are employees of the respective State Government/ UT Administration and born on the appropriate cadre/ service of the State Government/ UT Administration. They are paid salary as per the pay-scale prescribed for them by respective State/UT, for which expenditure is borne from the ICDS budget in the cost sharing ratio of 90:10 between the Centre and the States/UTs.

(b) &(c): Shortage and vacancies are due to non-operationalization of sanctioned Anganwadi Centres and also due to administrative, procedural and legal delays in filling- up of vacant posts 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 as well as filling up vacant positions for ensuring quality service delivery under ICDS Scheme.

(d) &(e): No, Madam, no such committee has been constituted presently by the Government.