Srinagar, Jul 31: Anganwadi workers in Jammu and Kashmir receive one of the lowest additional honorarium top-ups in the country, with the Union Territory providing just ₹600 per month to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and ₹300 to Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs), the Union Government informed Parliament on Friday.
The information was shared by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, highlighting wide disparities in additional financial support extended by States and Union Territories to Anganwadi workers under the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme.
According to the ministry, the Centre provides a monthly honorarium of ₹4,500 to Anganwadi Workers and ₹2,250 to Anganwadi Helpers under the cost-sharing arrangement with States and UTs. In addition, workers receive performance-linked incentives of ₹500 and ₹250, respectively.
With the UT administration’s additional top-up, an Anganwadi Worker in Jammu and Kashmir receives ₹5,600 per month, excluding the performance-linked incentive, while an Anganwadi Helper receives ₹2,550.
The data shows that Jammu and Kashmir’s ₹600 monthly top-up for AWWs is among the lowest in the country. Nagaland provides no additional top-up, while neighbouring Ladakh offers ₹1,300 to Anganwadi Workers and ₹650 to Helpers.
In contrast, several States provide significantly higher incentives. Kerala pays an additional ₹8,300 to Anganwadi Workers and ₹6,800 to Helpers, Tamil Nadu provides ₹9,780 and ₹6,270 respectively, while Haryana offers ₹10,250 and ₹5,650. Goa tops the list, with additional payments ranging between ₹15,000 and ₹23,000 for Anganwadi Workers.
The ministry informed Parliament that the central honorarium was last revised on October 1, 2018, when it was increased from ₹3,000 to ₹4,500 for Anganwadi Workers and from ₹1,500 to ₹2,250 for Helpers. States and UTs are free to provide additional incentives from their own resources.
Responding to questions on improving service conditions, the ministry said no decision has been taken to further enhance the central honorarium or restore travel allowances.
The Centre reiterated that Anganwadi Workers and Helpers are honorary workers drawn from local communities who provide child care, nutrition and early childhood development services under the Integrated Child Development Services framework.
The ministry also highlighted welfare measures available to Anganwadi workers, including 20 days of annual leave, 180 days of paid maternity leave, healthcare coverage of up to ₹5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, eligibility for the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan pension scheme, and insurance coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
It further said promotion avenues have been expanded, with 50 per cent of Anganwadi Worker posts to be filled through promotion from eligible Helpers and half of Supervisor posts reserved for experienced Anganwadi Workers.
