Question : National Awards to Anganwadi Workers

(a) whether the Government has formulated a scheme for awarding Anganwadi workers at National and State Level under the Centrally Sponsored Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, if so, the details thereof and the criteria fixed by the Government in this regard;
(b) the details of the awards given to the Anganwadi workers during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether the Government has provided financial assistance to the States/UTs for such awards and if so, the details thereof during the said period;
(d) whether the Government has taken steps to improve the living standards of Anganwadi workers in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the other steps taken by the Government to improve the working condition of the Anganwadi workers/helpers?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMENT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) Yes, Madam. Government of India has formulated a scheme for awarding Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) at National Level and State Level in the year 2000-2001 under Anganwadi Services of Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.

The award at the National Level comprises of Rs. 50,000/- each and a citation and the award at the State level carries a cash aware of RS.10,000/- and a citation. National level Awardees are selected by a National Level Selection Committee presided over by the Minister-in-charge of Ministry of Women and Child Development on the basis of nominations received from the States/UTs. The State Level Awardees are selected by State Level Selection Committee under the Chairpersonship of Secretary-in-charge of Women and Child Development. The State Level Award is given to Anganwadi Workers based on the performance in the respective year and subsequently, National Level Award is given out of nomination of State Awardees. The award is conferred to the Anganwadi Worker in the subsequent year. The criteria evolved for selection of awardees includes overall assessment of the performance of Anganwadi Workers on Education under the Anganwadi Services of Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, contribution of the Anganwadi Workers towards convergence with other Departments/other improving the coverage and quality of services to eligible children and Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW & LM), regular reporting for Monthly Progress Report and Annual Reports, enrolment of children in Supplementary Nutrition Programme and Pre-school Education under the ICDS Scheme, contribution of the Anganwadi Workers towards community participation, cleanliness & hygiene, innovations and experience.

(b) The details of the awards given to the Anganwadi Workers during 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17are placed at Annexure-I. The award to the year 2017-18 has been finalized for conferring to the selected AWWs.

(c) The expenditure incurred by the State/UTs towards State level awards is borne by concerned States/UTs out of the funds released by the Central Government for implementation of Anganwadi Services of Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme alongwith their State/UT share.

(d) & (e): The Anganwadi Services (under Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme) envisages the Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) & Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) 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. Under the Anganwadi Services, the Government of India enhanced the honorarium with effect from 01.10.2018 for Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) engaged in main-Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) from Rs.3,000/- p.m. to Rs.4,500/- p.m. The honorarium of AWWs engaged in Mini-AWCs has further been enhanced from Rs. 2,250/- p.m. to Rs. 3,500/- p.m. The honorarium of Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) has been enhanced from the existing Rs. 1,500/-per month to Rs. 2.250/- p.m. They are also eligible for performance linked incentive of Rs. 250/- p.m.

Anganwadi Workers are also provided incentive of Rs.500/- p.m. for using ICDS-CAS under POSHAN Abhiyaan. Apart from these, additional amount of honoraria are also paid by most of the State Governments / UT Administrations from their own resources. In addition, the following benefits are also extended to the AWWs/AWHs:

Uniform: A set of two uniform (Saree/Suit @Rs.400/- per saree per annum)

Leave: The Anganwadi Services under Umbrella ICDS Scheme provides 20 days annual leave to AWWs/AWHs. In addition, they are allowed paid absence on maternity for a period of 180 days for a maximum of two occasions with less than two surviving children and 45 days paid absence on abortion/miscarriage on one occasion.

Female Critical Illness: Female critical illness benefits to AWWS/AWHs is Rs. 20,000/- {only on diagnosis of invasive cancers (malignant tumour) manifest in organs, viz., breast, cervix, corpus uteri, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vaginal/vulva}.

Promotion: Reservation of 50% of vacant posts of Supervisors for Anganwadi Workers in recruitment and also 25% of Anganwadi Workers from Anganwadi Helpers in promotion after completion of 10 years of experience.

Scholarship: A free add-on scholarship benefits is available for the children of AWWs and AWHs. Scholarship of Rs. 300/- per quarter for students of 9th to 12th Standard (including ITI courses) is available but it is limited to two children per family.

Insurance cover: Insurance cover under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) of Rs. 2.00 lakh and covers life risk, death due to any reason and under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) Rs. 2.00 lakh for accidental death & permanent full disability; and Rs.1.00lakh for partial but permanent disability these schemes applicable for those AWWs/AWHs who join Anganwadi services on or before 01.06.2017.

Anganwadi Karyakartri Bima Yojana (AKBY) is applicable to those AWWs/AWHs whose age group of 51-59 years as on 01.06.2017 (closed group) so long as they are engaged.

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Annexure-I
STATEMENT REFFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4104 FOR 04-01-2019

State-wise National Level Awards to Anganwadi Workers during Years 2014-15 to 2016-17
Sl. No. State Number of Awardees
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
1 ANDHRA PRADESH 1 1 1
2 ARUNACHAL PRADESH 1 1 1
3 ASSAM 2 2 2
4 ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR 1 1 1
5 BIHAR 2 2 2
6 CHHATTISGARH 1 1 1
7 GOA 1 1 1
8 GUJARAT 2 2 2
9 HARYANA 1 1 1
10 HIMACHAL PRADESH 1 1 1
11 JAMMU AND KASHMIR 1 1 1
12 JHARKHAND 1 1 1
13 KARNATAKA 2 2 2
14 KERALA 2 2 2
15 MADHYA PRADESH 2 2 2
16 MAHARASHTRA 1 3 3
17 MANIPUR 1 NA 1
18 MEGHALAYA 1 1 1
19 MIZORAM 1 1 1
20 NAGALAND 1 1 1
21 ODISHA 2 2 2
22 PUNJAB 1 1 1
23 RAJASTHAN 2 2 2
24 SIKKIM 1 1 1
25 TAMIL NADU 2 2 2
26 TELANGANA 1 1 1
27 TRIPURA 1 1 1
28 UTTAR PRADESH 4 4 4
29 UTTARAKHAND 1 1 1
30 WEST BENGAL 2 2 2
31 CHANDIGARH 1 1 1
32 DELHI 1 NA 1
33 DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI 1 NA 1
34 DAMAN AND DIU 1 1 1
35 LAKSHADWEEP 1 1 1
36 PUDUCHERRY 1 1 1
Total 49 48 51

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