Question : HONORARIUM TO ANGANWADI WORKERS

(a) the present honorarium given to Anganwadi workers and helpers under the ICDS and the additional benefits offered to them by State Governments, State-wise;

(b) whether any proposal is under consideration of the Government for enhancing the honorarium of the Anganwadi workers and helpers;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has revived any memoranda received from the various organizations demanding healthier remuneration and conditions of work for the Anganwadi workers and helpers;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;

(f) whether the work load of the Anganwadi workers and helpers has been enhanced by assigning them new responsibilities; and

(g) if so, the details thereof and any additional benefits being offered to them for the additional work they do?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI RENUKA CHOWDHURY)

(a) The honoraria being paid to Anganwadi Workers by the Government of India ranges from Rs.938/- to Rs.1063/- per month, depending upon their qualifications and experience. Helpers are paid fixed amount of Rs. 500/- per month. In addition,

some States are also giving monetary incentives to Anganwadi Workers/Helpers out of their own resources, as given in the Statement at Annexure-I.

The other facilities/benefits extended by Government of India to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers include:

# maternity leave of 135 days at par with women employees of organized sector;
# Insurance cover through Anganwadi Karyakatri Bima Yojana;
# Awards, both at the National and State level, to dedicated Anganwadi Workers. The award at National level comprises of cash of Rs.25,000/- and a Citation. State level awards comprise of cash of Rs. 5,000/- and a Citation.

The State Governments have been requested to:
# recruit at least 25% of Supervisors under ICDS Scheme from matriculate AWWs with 10 years’ experience;
# consider the services rendered as AWWs as additional qualification for recruitment as primary school teachers and ANMs etc.

(b) There is no such proposal at present.

(c) Does not arise.

(d)&(e) Representations have been received from some Anganwadi Workers & Helpers’ Associations. The main demands made by them and response of the Government thereto is given in the Statement at Annexure-II.

(f)&(g) It has been observed that Anganwadi Workers are being assigned work relating to Schemes/Programmes of some other Ministries/Departments of Government of India as well as State Governments. The States have been advised to ensure that AWWs are not drawn into every programme diluting her core functions under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.

Annexure-I

Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question NO. 3819 for 16.5.2006 by Shri C.K. Chandrappan and Shri Jual Oram regarding Honorarium to Anganwadi Workers.

STATEMENT INDICATING STATEWISE INFORMATION REGARDING ADDL.HONORARIUM TO AWWS/AWHS

Sl	Name of State/UT	Addl	Addl.Honorari
No	Honorarium	um	to AWWs	to AWHs
1	GOA	1000	400
2	HARYANA	200	100
3	HIMACHAL PRADESH	200	100
4	J & K	245-280	140
5	KARNATAKA	250	75
6	KERALA	400	400
7	MAHARASHTRA	400	125
8	SIKKIM	750	450
9	PUNJAB	200	100
10	TAMIL NADU	680	500
12	WEST BENGAL	200	200
13	DELHI	200	100
14	PONDICHERRY	460	400
15	A & N ISLAND	500	240
16	CHANDIGARH	400	300
17	LAKSHADWEEP	500	200
18	JHARKHAND	250	100
19	D& N HAVELI	500	300
20	DAMAN & DIU	500	300

Main demands raised in the	Response of the Government
representations
i. To increase the	i. In January 2003, the Government of
honorarium of Anganwadi India almost dobled the honoraria of
Workers & Helpers	Anganwadi Workers and Helpers with effect from 1.4.2002.
ii. To treat Anganawadi
Workers & Helpers as Govt.	ii. The Integrated Child Development
employees Services (ICDS) Scheme envisages Anganwadi Workers and Helpers to be “honorary workers” from the local community who render services on part-time basis and paid fixed honorarium as decided by the Govt. from time to time. At present, there are more than 7.5 lakh AWCs and an equal number of Helpers in position. As	such, it is neither feasible nor	appropriate to treat them as Government	employees.
iii. To provide Anganwadi	iii. Govt. of India has already introduced
Workers and Helpers	`Anganwadi Karyakartri Bima Yojana’ for
Insurance Scheme, Pension Anganwadi Workers and helpers w.e.f. 1.4.2004
Scheme etc. under Life Insurance Corporation`s Social Security Scheme.
iv. To provide retirement	iv. AWWs and Helpers are voluntary	workers engaged on part-time basis, it is	not possible to extend pension and other	benefits to them.
v. To promote the	v. The GOI has already issued instructions
experienced workers as	to States/UTs for reservation of minimum
Supervisors	of 25% posts of Supervisors for selection from AWWs who are matriculates and have put in minimum of 10 years of service.
vi. To provide medical	vi. The extant guidelines provide casual
and leave facilities	leave upto 20 days in a year of which 10	days’ leave can be granted at a time to	take care of illness etc. Besides, they	have also been allowed “paid absence on Maternity” for a period of 135 days
vii. To provide them with	vii. Under the ICDS Scheme, there is no
two sarees as uniform	provision for providing uniforms to AWWs and Helpers
viii. Additional	viii. Many States are giving additional
honorarium for the work	to AWWs and Helpers out of their own
of other Ministries/	resources. The States/UT have been
Departments	requested to ensure that the AWWs are not drawn into every programme as it is taking away their time from core activities. However, additional monetary incntive, may be given to them for work of other	programme, wherever necessary.
ix. Giving preference to	ix. States/UTs have been requested to
AWWs in the recruitment	treat the honorary services rendered by
as Teacher etc.	Anganwadi Workers and Helpers as	as Primary School Teachers,ANMs and other	such village based positions.for recruitment
x.To provide TA/DA to	x. Instructions already exist which
AWWs for attending the	provides for payment of TA/DA to AWWs and
Refresher Training	Helpers, whenever they are required to
Programme etc.	attend Project Headquarters for monthly	meetings/ short re-orientation/refresher	training courses etc.
xi. Setting up of Grievance	xi. States/UTs have been requested to set
Redressal Committee	up Grievance Redressal Committee for AWWs	and Helpers at the district and State level to improve the morale and motivation of AWWs. Responses have been received from all the States/UTs
xii. No privatization of	xii. The Scheme envisages that the Central
ICDS and handing over the Social Welfare Board (CSWB), voluntary
AWCs to Panchayats or organisations, local bodies, Panchayati
Mother Committees should Raj Institutions (where these are
also be stopped	functioning efficiently) etc. are to be	actively involved in this programme for implementation, soliciting community support etc. Instructions have been issued by the Government of India from time to time to the State Governments involve the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and voluntary organizations in the implementation of the programme. Given the spirit of the Constitution (Seventy-Third Amendment) Act, 1992, it is expected that various functionaries involved in the developmental tasks will work harmoniously with PRIs.