Executive Summary:
This document is a response to a parliamentary inquiry regarding retirement benefits for Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), helpers (AWHs), and Mini Anganwadi workers. It clarifies the roles of the Central and State/UT governments, details honorarium increases since October 1, 2018, and outlines various initiatives to incentivize and support AWWs and AWHs. There is currently no proposal to regularize Anganwadi workers.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Roles and Responsibilities:**
* The Central Government is responsible for policy and planning of the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme.
* State Governments/UT Administrations are responsible for day-to-day program implementation, including recruitment and service-related matters.
* **Honorarium:**
* AWWs and AWHs are honorary workers paid an honorarium, increased over time.
* Since October 1, 2018, the honorarium for AWWs at Anganwadi centers is Rs.4,500 per month.
* AWWs at mini AWCs receive Rs.3,500 per month.
* AWHs receive Rs.2,250 per month, as per cost-sharing ratios between the Centre and States/UTs.
* States/UTs may provide additional monetary incentives from their own resources.
* AWWs receive a performance-linked incentive of Rs.500 per month.
* AWHs receive a performance-linked incentive of Rs.250 per month.
* **Incentives and Support Initiatives:**
* **Promotion:** Enhanced promotional opportunities exist for AWWs and AWHs. 50% of Anganwadi Worker posts are filled by Anganwadi Helpers (5 years of experience) and 50% of Supervisor posts are filled by promotion of Anganwadi Workers (5 years of experience).
* **Leave:** AWWs and AWHs are entitled to 20 days of annual leave. They are also entitled to 180 days of paid maternity absence, and 45 days paid absence for abortion/miscarriage.
* **Pension Scheme:** State Governments and UT Administrations are encouraged to enroll eligible AWWs and AWHs in the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PMSYM) Pension Scheme.
* **Social Security Insurance:** AWWs and AWHs receive insurance benefits under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) for life cover (Rs. 2.00 lakh) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana for accidental cover (Rs. 2.00 Lakh accidental death and permanent full disability, Rs.1.00 Lakh partial but permanent disability).
* **Retirement Date:** States and UTs have been requested to adopt a uniform retirement date of April 30th each year.
* **Healthcare Coverage:** Annual Healthcare coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs is provided under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) to all Anganwadi workers and helpers.
* **Regularization:**
* There is currently no proposal to regularize Anganwadi workers or provide them with facilities akin to government employees.
Impact Analysis:
* **Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs):**
* *Impact:* AWWs and AWHs will continue to receive honorariums as per the revised rates. They are eligible for promotional opportunities, leave benefits, and encouraged to enroll in the PMSYM pension scheme. They also receive social security insurance and healthcare coverage. The States/UTs will align to a uniform retirement date.
* *Action Required:* AWWs and AWHs should consider enrolling in the PMSYM pension scheme and take advantage of the insurance and healthcare benefits.
* **State Governments/UT Administrations:**
* *Impact:* States/UTs are responsible for implementing the scheme, including recruitment, service matters, and providing additional incentives. They are requested to encourage enrollment in PMSYM, adopt a uniform retirement date, and ensure healthcare coverage.
* *Action Required:* States/UTs need to implement the honorarium increases, facilitate enrollment in PMSYM, ensure insurance coverage, adopt the uniform retirement date, and administer healthcare benefits.
* **Central Government:**
* *Impact:* The Central Government continues to be responsible for policy and planning.
* *Action Required:* Continue policy oversight and financial support for the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs): Assistants to Anganwadi Workers in providing child care and development services.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: A centrally sponsored scheme by the Government of India focused on Anganwadi services and nutrition.
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PMSYM): A voluntary and contributory pension scheme for workers in the unorganized sector.
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): A life insurance scheme providing life cover for death due to any reason.
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): An accident insurance scheme providing cover for accidental death and disability.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY): A health insurance scheme providing annual healthcare coverage.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
Anganwadi Workers (AWWs): Honorary workers from the local community who voluntarily render their services in the area of child care and development.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3277
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025
RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO AWWS
†3277. SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT:
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the State-wise details of emoluments, pension or other financial benefits provided to
Anganwadi workers, helpers and Mini Anganwadi workers at the time of retirement
in the country;
(b) the number of Anganwadi workers retired during the last five years along with the
details of financial benefits given to them after retirement, State-wise, year-wise and
item-wise; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to regularise Anganwadi workers and provide them
facilities akin to a Government employee and if so, the timeline for the same and if
not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) & (b) 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/UT
Administrations are responsible for day-to-day program implementation including recruitment
and service related matters of the field functionaries. 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; AWWs at mini- AWCs from Rs.2,250/- to Rs.3,500/- per month; AWHs
from Rs.1,500/- to Rs.2,250/- per month as per the defined cost sharing ratio between the
Centre & States/UTs. In addition, States/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.To incentivize and encourage the AWWs and AWHs, various initiatives have been undertaken
including the following:
i. Promotion: Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, promotional
opportunities for Anganwadi Workers have been enhanced. 50% posts of Anganwadi
Workers are to be filled by Anganwadi Helpers with 5 years of experience and 50%
posts of Supervisors are to be filled by promotion of Anganwadi Workers with 5 years
of experience subject to fulfilment of other criteria.
ii. Leave: 20 days annual leave and paid maternity absence of 180 days, paid absence on
abortion/ miscarriage once for 45 days.
iii. 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.
iv. 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.
v. Retirement date: States and UTs have been requested to adopt a uniform retirement date
i.e 30th April of each year with respect to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers to ensure
proper human resource planning.
vi. Annual Healthcare coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri
Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to all Anganwadi workers and helpers in pursuance
to budget announcement in FY 2024-25
(c) Currently, no such proposal is under consideration.
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