Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Pension Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Pension Scheme

SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT
SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE
DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE
SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) the number of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs)/ Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) who enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Pension Scheme, across States and Union Territories particularly in Maharashtra;

(b) whether the Union Government proposes to increase the honorariums given to Anganwadi workers in these centres;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) the  details  of  the  measures  taken  to  improve  the  working  condition  of AWWs/AWHs and the steps taken to monitor the progress; and

(e) the  steps  taken  to  train  and  implement  capacity  building  programs  for Anganwadi Workers in various States particularly in Maharashtra?

(a) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) Pension Scheme introduced by Government of India for the unorganised sectors in the country to ensure old age protection envisaging assured pension of ₹ 3,000/- per month on attaining the age of 60 years. The age of entry to the Scheme is 18-40 years. PM- SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme on a 50:50 basis where prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government for availing the assured pension of ₹ 3,000/- per month on attaining the age of 60 years. In this regard, it is stated that Ministry of Women & Child Development is not the implementing agency for the scheme however, to promote pensionary benefits to Anganwadi Workers/ Helpers, this Ministry has requested State Governments/UT Administrations time and again to encourage eligible AWWs/AWHs to get themselves enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) Pension Scheme on voluntary basis in order to get assured monthly pension on attaining the age of 60 years.

(b) & (c) Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) are paid monthly honorarium as decided by Government of India from time to time, which is uniform in all States/UTs. Presently, AWWs at main-AWCs are paid an honorarium of ₹4,500/- per month; AWWs at mini-AWCs ₹3,500/- per month and AWHs are paid ₹2,250/- per month at the prescribed cost sharing ratio between the Centre and State/ UT. Also, performance linked incentive of ₹250/- per month paid to AWHs and ₹500/- per month paid to AWWs. In addition, States/UTs are also paying additional monetary incentives/ honorarium to these functionaries from their own resources.

 

(d) The steps taken to improve the working condition of AWWs/ AWHs are as under:

• Honorarium: From 1st October, 2018, Government of India has enhanced the honorarium of AWWs at main-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.
• Leave: They have been allowed paid absence of 180 days of maternity leave. Also, 20 days annual leaves are permissible.
• Award: In order to motivate the Anganwadi Workers and give recognition to good voluntary work, a Scheme of Award for AWWs has been introduced with a cash prize of Rs.50,000/- to selected AWWs and Rs.40,000/- to selected AWHs.
• Promotion Avenues: 50% posts of AWWs shall be filled by promotion of Anganwadi Helpers with 5 years of experience and 50% posts of supervisors shall be filled by promotion of Anganwadi Workers with 5 years of experience subject to fulfilment of other criteria.
• Uniform: There is a provision for set of two Uniform (saree/suit per annum) to AWW/AWH.
• Anganwadi Workers have been provided with smart phones for efficient implementation of the scheme.
• Streamlined guidelines have already been issued by this Ministry on 13.01.2021, which provides for quality assurance, roles and responsibilities of duty holders, procedure for procurement, integrating AYUSH concepts and data management.

Under Saksaham Abhiyaan and Poshan 2.0, IT systems have been leveraged to strengthen and bring about transparency in nutrition delivery support systems. The ‘Poshan Tracker’ application was rolled out by MoWCD on 1st March, 2021 as an important governance tool. Poshan Tracker is a job-aid to the Anganwadi worker for efficient delivery of services, digitisation of physical registers along with reflection of their efforts. It is a critical and beneficiary-centric service delivery Application under POSHAN Abhiyaan which promotes near real time data with analytics. The Poshan Tracker facilitates monitoring and tracking of all AWCs, AWWs and beneficiaries on defined indicators.

(e) Training  is  a  crucial  element   in   the   Anganwadi   Services   Scheme   as the achievement of the Programme goals largely depend upon the effectiveness of frontline workers in improving service delivery. Since the inception of the Scheme, the Ministry has formulated a comprehensive training strategy for the functionaries of Anganwadi Services. Training is imparted to the functionaries on a regular basis.

Anganwadi Workers are provided job training for 26 working days. During this job training, the knowledge, understanding and skills of Anganwadi Workers on various Acts, Policies, Programmes related to women and children, setting up vibrant Anganwadi Centres, conducting Early Childhood Care and Education activities, health & nutrition care of children and women, Community Mobilisation, Awareness, Advocacy & IEC, Management of AWC and hands on experience through supervised practice to work in Anganwadi Centres are developed.

NeGD is also, regularly conducting field level trainings / workshops directly for Anganwadi Workers regarding use of the Poshan Tracker Application. Multiple rounds of trainings have been held both virtually and physically, in this regard

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