**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to a parliamentary question (No. 1041) regarding the health and well-being of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs). It outlines measures taken by the government under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, a centrally sponsored scheme, to support AWWs and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs). The response was given on December 5, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0**
* Central government responsible for policy and planning.
* State governments and UT administrations responsible for day-to-day program implementation.
* AWWs and AWHs are considered "honorary workers" paid an honorarium.
* **Honorarium and Incentives**
* Honorarium for AWWs increased from Rs.3,000/- to Rs.4,500/- per month (effective October 1, 2018).
* Honorarium for AWHs increased from Rs.1,500/- to Rs.2,250/- per month (effective October 1, 2018).
* Cost sharing ratio between the Centre & States and UTs.
* States and UTs may provide additional monetary incentives.
* Performance-linked incentive of Rs.500/- per month for AWWs and Rs.250/- per month for AWHs.
* **Technological Empowerment**
* Provision of smartphones for efficient monitoring and service delivery under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
* Utilization of Poshan Tracker, a mobile app, to digitize physical registers.
* **Incentives and Encouragement**
* 20 days annual leave and 180 days paid maternity leave. Paid absence on abortion/miscarriage once for 45 days.
* Encouragement for AWWs and AWHs to enroll in the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) Pension Scheme.
* **Social Security and Insurance**
* Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) providing life cover of Rs.2.00 lakh (age 18-50).
* Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana providing accidental cover of Rs.2.00 Lakh (age 18-59) for death/full disability and Rs.1.00 Lakh for partial disability.
* Annual healthcare coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) for eligible AWWs and helpers.
* **Infrastructure Improvement**
* Increased funding for drinking water facilities at AWCs from Rs.10,000/- to Rs.17,000/-.
* Increased funding for toilets at AWCs from Rs.12,000/- to Rs.36,000/-.
**Impact Analysis**
**AWWs and AWHs**
**Impact**
Increased honorarium, performance-linked incentives, access to leave, pension schemes, social security insurance, and improved infrastructure at AWCs.
**Action Required**
AWWs and AWHs should enroll in available schemes like PM-SYM and AB-PMJAY to avail of pension and healthcare benefits. Use provided smartphones and Poshan Tracker for efficient service delivery and monitoring.
**State Governments and UT Administrations**
**Impact**
Responsible for day-to-day program implementation, payment of honorariums, and potential provision of additional monetary incentives to AWWs and AWHs.
**Action Required**
Encourage eligible AWWs and AWHs to enroll in the PM-SYM Pension Scheme. Ensure effective program implementation and consider providing additional monetary incentives from their own resources.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: A centrally sponsored scheme aimed at improving the health and well-being of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) including the provision of technology and monetary incentives.
Anganwadi Workers (AWWs): Honorary workers providing child care and development services at the local community level in India.
Anganwadi Centres (AWCs): Centres where Anganwadi Workers provide services.
Ministry of Women & Child Development: The government ministry responsible for the policy and planning of the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme.
Maharashtra: A state in India specifically mentioned regarding measures for the health conditions of AWWs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1041
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2025
HEALTH CONDITIONS OF AWWS
1041. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether any measures are being taken up by the Government for the upkeep of the health
conditions of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), including body-mass-index, fasting blood
sugar and cholesterol levels, in Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of AWWs screened for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes,
hypertension, dyslipidemia and anemia, against the number of positive cases in each
category, State-wise, especially in Maharashtra;
(c) the number of AWWs screened for women specific issues such as cervical and menstrual
cancer; and
(d) whether the Goverment has any dedicated plan for AWWs, to address occupational health,
mental stress, workload, poor toilet and sanitary facilities at AWCs, if so, the details of all
the mechanisms in place/under consideration along with the funds allocated and disbursed
therefor and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (d) Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored scheme. The
Central Government is responsible for policy and planning and the State Governments and UT
Administrations are responsible for day-to-day program implementation. Anganwadi Workers
(AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) are “honorary workers” from the local community
who voluntarily come forward to render their services in the area of child care and development
to help the local community for which they are paid honorarium. Honorarium is given to AWWs
and AWHs which is increased from time to time. From 1st October, 2018, Government of India
has enhanced the honorarium of AWWs at Anganwadi centres (AWCs) from Rs.3,000/- to
Rs.4,500/- per month; AWHs from Rs.1,500/- to Rs.2,250/- per month as per the defined cost
sharing ratio between the Centre & States and UTs. In addition, States and UTs are also paying
additional monetary incentives/top ups to these functionaries from their own resources which
vary from State to State.Besides, performance linked incentive of Rs.500/- is provided to AWWs and Rs.250/- per
month to AWHs.
Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, AWWs have been technologically
empowered with the provision of smartphones for efficient monitoring and service delivery.
Poshan Tracker which is a mobile phone application that has digitized physical registers used
by Anganwadi workers. This improves the quality of their work while simultaneously enabling
them for real-time monitoring of all activities going on in the Anganwadis.
To incentivize and encourage the AWWs and AWHs, various initiatives have been undertaken
including the following:
i. Leave: 20 days annual leave and paid maternity absence of 180 days, paid absence on
abortion/ miscarriage once for 45 days.
ii. State Governments and UT Administrations have been requested to encourage eligible
AWWs and AWHs to get themselves enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi
Mandhan (PM-SYM) Pension Scheme, which is a voluntary and contributory pension
scheme for the unorganized sectors in the country to ensure old age protection.
iii. Social Security Insurance Schemes: Insurance benefits have been provided to Anganwadi
Workers and Helpers under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) for life
cover worth Rs.2.00 lakh (covers life risk, death due to any reason) in the age group of 18
to 50 years and under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana for accidental cover of
Rs.2.00 Lakh (accidental death and permanent full disability) /Rs.1.00 Lakh (partial but
permanent disability) in the age group of 18-59 years.
iv. Annual Healthcare coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan
Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to all eligible Anganwadi workers and helpers.
In order to improve the infrastructure facility of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) various steps
have been undertaken by the Ministry that, inter alia, include increasing the funding for drinking
water facilities and toilets at Anganwadi Centres from Rs.10,000/- to Rs.17,000/- and
Rs.12,000/- to Rs.36,000/- respectively.
******