Lt. Governor Approves Enhancement of Honorarium of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers

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Port Blair, July 17: In a historic move, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has approved enhancement of honorarium of Anganwadi worker(AWW)from Rs.9000/- to Rs.12000/- per month and from Rs.6000/- to Rs.8000/- per month for Anganwadi Helper(AWH) with effect from 01.07.2023. The total enhanced honorarium will be implemented with an additional outlay of Rs. 11.45 Crore from UT budget.

The Department of Social Welfare, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, is implementing Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 services in the Union Territory. The important services delivered through this scheme are Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-School Education, Immunization, Nutrition & Health Education, Health Check-up, and Referral Services along with new components like ‘Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi’, ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’ and ‘Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)’ etc. At present, there are 720 Anganwadi Centres with 11796 children in the age group of 0-6 years and 2552 pregnant and lactating women availing various Anganwadi services.

The above services are delivered to the beneficiaries by the Anganwadi Worker and Anganwadi Helper appointed in each Anganwadi centre. Ministry of Women and Child Development releases monthly honorarium of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers at Rs.4500/- and Rs.2250/- respectively. However, the UT of ANI has been providing an additional sum of Rs.4500/- per month and Rs.3750/- per month to AWWs and AWHs respectively. Thus, a total of Rs.9000/- was paid as monthly honorarium to AWW and Rs.6000/- to AWH, till date.

Considering the demanding nature of duties of AWWs/AWHs and their prominent role in reducing the malnutrition among children and women, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration recommended for enhancement of UT component of honorarium of Anganwadi worker and helpers by Rs. 3000/- and Rs. 2000/- per month respectively. The Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands accorded approval for enhancement w.e.f. 1st July, 2023.

With this historic step, the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has become one of the highest payers of honorarium to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers in the country.