Bhubaneswar/ New Delhi, June 8:Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP, Sasmit Patra, has urged the Centre to review and increase the honorarium and incentive structure for Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), Mini-Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) working under the Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 programmes.
In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi, Patra highlighted that the honorarium paid to Anganwadi functionaries was last revised in 2018. He pointed out that nearly eight years have passed since the revision, during which the cost of living has risen significantly while the responsibilities of Anganwadi workers have expanded considerably.
The BJD leader noted that Anganwadi workers are now entrusted with a wide range of duties, including implementation of POSHAN Abhiyaan, operation of the POSHAN Tracker, nutrition surveillance, digital reporting, beneficiary monitoring, maternal health tracking and community outreach activities.
Describing Anganwadi workers and helpers as the backbone of India’s nutrition, maternal health and early childhood development system, Patra said their contribution has been instrumental in improving child welfare and nutrition outcomes across the country. He stressed that their remuneration should adequately reflect both inflationary pressures and the growing scope of their responsibilities.
Referring specifically to Odisha, Patra said Anganwadi functionaries play a crucial role in delivering welfare and nutrition services to children, pregnant women and lactating mothers, particularly in rural, tribal, coastal, remote and aspirational districts. Their efforts, he said, are vital for ensuring effective last-mile service delivery.
In his representation, Patra urged the Ministry to establish a suitable review mechanism to assess the current honorarium and incentive structure. He also called for an evaluation of inflation and cost-of-living increases since 2018, along with an assessment of the additional responsibilities arising from POSHAN Abhiyaan, POSHAN Tracker, Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0.
The Rajya Sabha member further sought an upward revision of honorariums for Anganwadi Workers, Mini-Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers, along with enhanced performance-based incentives. He also recommended special incentives for those serving in tribal, remote, coastal, Left Wing Extremism-affected and aspirational districts.
Additionally, Patra proposed the institutionalisation of a periodic review mechanism to ensure timely revisions in the future.
Emphasising the broader impact of such a move, Patra said improving the honorarium and incentive framework should be viewed as an investment in healthier children, empowered mothers and stronger communities rather than merely a welfare measure.
He expressed hope that a timely intervention by the Government of India would strengthen the country’s maternal and child welfare ecosystem while recognising the invaluable contribution of frontline Anganwadi workers and helpers.
