Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, announced a landmark increase in remuneration for ASHA and Anganwadi workers. The announcement which will be effective from next month was made during a video bridge interaction with lakhs of ASHA, Anganwadi and ANM workers today.
The Prime Minister announced the doubling of routine incentives given by the Union Government to ASHA workers. In addition, all ASHA workers and their helperswould be provided free insurance cover under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Prime Minister Suraksha Bima Yojana.
Prime Minister also announced significant increase in the honorarium given to Anganwadi workers. Those receiving Rs. 3000 so far, would now receive Rs. 4500. Similarly those receiving Rs. 2200, would now get Rs. 3500. The honorarium for Anganwadi helpers has also been increased from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2250.
Prime Minister also announced that Anganwadi workers and helpers using techniques such as Common Application Software (ICDS-CAS), would get additional incentives. The incentives ranging from Rs. 250 to Rs. 500, would be based on performance.
The Prime Minister interacted with teams of three As - the ASHA worker, Anganwadi worker and ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) from across the country. He appreciated their efforts to work together, to use innovative means and technology, to improve the delivery of health and nutrition services and achieve the goal of the POSHAN Abhiyan - reduction of malnutrition in the country.
Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, responding to this increase announce by the PM, said, "I am grateful to the Prime Minister for leading the Poshan Abhiyan from the front. It was actually his idea that unless we convert our efforts to eliminate malnutrition into a Jan Andolan, these efforts will have limited success."
Over the last 4 years, we have been putting the pieces of puzzle together so that the fight against malnutrition can be taken up in a mission mode. The first aspect we dealt was the increase of daily cost norms for the beneficiaries of the ICDS Programme. The second was to have a technology based real time monitoring system of the Anganwadi services. These two have been put in place. The third aspect was the identification and elimination of fake beneficiaries which is an ongoing process. We have already eliminated approximately one crore fake beneficiaries from the system. The fourth piece has been announced today by the Prime Minister on the long standing demand of the Anganwadi workers to increase their honorarium. This will boost their morale and help improve the delivery of services by the frontline workers and will in turn help to achieve the goal of Poshan Abhiyan.
