SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Helpers (AWHs) receive only Rs.600 and Rs.300 per month, respectively, as additional honorarium on top of the central government’s rates, according to a response in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The figures place the Union Territory among the lowest in the country for state-level top-ups for these frontline child care workers under the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programmes, the Ministry of Women and Child Development said.
Nationally, honorarium vary widely. For instance, states like Haryana and Telangana pay AWWs between Rs.9,150–10,250 per month, and AWHs between Rs.5,550–5,650, while Kerala provides Rs.8,500 to AWWs and Rs.6,750 to AWHs. Several other states including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Sikkim also provide substantial top-ups ranging from Rs.4,500 to Rs.8,500 for AWWs. In contrast, smaller UTs such as Mizoram and Nagaland provide minimal or no top-ups, similar to JK, highlighting the uneven financial incentives across the country.
The Ministry highlighted that the central government last revised honoraria on October 2018, raising AWW payments to Rs.4,500 per month (mini-AWCs Rs.3,500) and AWH payments to Rs.2,250, with a performance-linked incentive of Rs.500 for AWWs and Rs.250 for AWHs. States and UTs are encouraged to supplement these amounts from their own resources. In addition, Anganwadi workers have been provided smartphones for digitized monitoring, opportunities for promotion, social security insurance, and access to healthcare coverage under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
Despite these initiatives, the low top-ups in Jammu and Kashmir underscore persistent challenges in recognising the workload and contributions of Anganwadi workers in the Union Territory, compared with higher-paying states across India.
Meanwhile, the Government of India said it has taken significant steps to strengthen Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) across the country under the umbrella schemes Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, aimed at improving early childhood care, education, and nutrition delivery. Efforts include the construction of 50,000 new AWC buildings over five years in convergence with MGNREGS, with a total of 2 lakh existing AWCs being upgraded to Saksham Anganwadis. These upgraded centres are equipped with LED screens, water filtration systems, Poshan Vatikas, ECCE learning materials, and BALA paintings to enhance service quality and infrastructure. Funds of Rs.1,232.65 crore have been allocated to states and UTs across the country for this purpose as of November 30, 2025.
In Kerala, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has released Rs.444.98 crore in 2022-23, Rs.306.64 crore in 2023-24, Rs.435.74 crore in 2024-25, and Rs.98.77 crore up to November 30, 2025, to support modernization and nutrition delivery at Anganwadis. Additional initiatives include co-locating AWCs within government primary schools where space is available, deploying ICT tools like the Poshan Tracker for real-time monitoring, and equipping centres with growth monitoring devices such as infantometers and stadiometers. Special programmes such as PM-JANMAN, DAJGUA, and Vibrant Village Programme also target AWCs in tribal and border areas, ensuring improved coverage and outreach for vulnerable communities.
