SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) receive an additional monthly top-up of Rs 600 from the UT administration, while Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) get Rs 300, placing JK among the lowest-paying States and Union Territories in terms of additional incentives, according to data presented by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
The Union Government said the Centre pays a monthly honorarium of Rs 4,500 to AWWs and Rs 2,250 to AWHs under the defined cost-sharing arrangement with States and UTs. In addition, AWWs receive a performance-linked incentive of Rs 500 per month and AWHs Rs 250.
With the UT’s additional top-up included, an Anganwadi Worker in JK receives Rs 5,600 a month from the central honorarium and UT top-up, excluding the performance-linked incentive. An Anganwadi Helper receives Rs 2,550, excluding the performance-linked incentive.
The JK top-up of Rs 600 for AWWs is the second-lowest among States and UTs that provide an additional payment, with only Nagaland reporting no additional top-up. For AWHs, JK’s Rs 300 is also among the lowest, above only some of the lowest slabs reported in the national data.
By comparison, Kerala provides an additional Rs 8,300 to AWWs and Rs 6,800 to AWHs, while Tamil Nadu provides Rs 9,780 and Rs 6,270, respectively. Haryana provides Rs 10,250 to AWWs and Rs 5,650 to AWHs, while Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh provide Rs 8,500 and Rs 8,500, respectively, to AWWs.
Goa reported the highest additional top-up range for AWWs at Rs 15,000 to Rs 23,000 and Rs 8,500 to Rs 11,500 for AWHs. Ladakh provides an additional Rs 1,300 to AWWs and Rs 650 to AWHs, also placing it towards the lower end of the national table.
The Union Government said the honorarium was last enhanced with effect from October 1, 2018, when the monthly payment for AWWs was raised from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500 and that for AWHs from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,250. States and UTs can provide additional monetary incentives or top-ups from their own resources, resulting in wide variations across the country.
Responding to questions on improving the service conditions of Anganwadi workers, the Ministry said no separate announcement on restoring travel allowance or increasing the central honorarium was made in the reply.
The Ministry said AWWs and AWHs are honorary workers drawn from local communities and voluntarily render services related to child care and development. The Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with the Centre responsible for policy and planning and States and UTs responsible for day-to-day implementation.
The Government said service-related measures include 20 days of annual leave, 180 days of paid maternity absence and paid absence of 45 days in case of abortion or miscarriage, once.
Promotion avenues have also been expanded, with 50 per cent of AWW posts to be filled by eligible AWHs with five years of experience, while 50 per cent of Supervisor posts are to be filled through promotion of AWWs with five years of experience, subject to other eligibility criteria.
The Centre has also asked States and UTs to encourage AWWs and AWHs to enrol under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan pension scheme. They are also covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, offering life insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh for eligible workers aged 18-50, and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, providing accidental cover of Rs 2 lakh for accidental death or permanent full disability and Rs 1 lakh for partial but permanent disability for eligible workers aged 18-59.
The Government has further requested States and UTs to adopt April 30 as a uniform retirement date for AWWs and AWHs. All AWWs and AWHs are also eligible for annual healthcare coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, in line with the Budget announcement for 2024-25.
Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, AWWs have also been provided smartphones and the Poshan Tracker application to digitise registers and enable real-time monitoring of Anganwadi activities.
