J&K Anganwadi Workers get only Rs 600 monthly top-up; among lowest in country

Srinagar, Aug 01: Jammu and Kashmir pays one of the lowest monthly additional incentives to Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers in the country – Rs 600 for workers and Rs 300 for helpers per month – as part of the state’s top-up over the Centre’s honorarium.The information was shared in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in response to a question about the status, benefits, and working conditions of Anganwadi staff across the country.Anganwadi Workers in regular centres currently receive a total monthly honorarium of Rs 4,500 from the Centre, while Anganwadi Helpers receive Rs 2,250. The state top-ups, such as those provided by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, are meant to supplement this amount to reflect local costs and policy priorities.The reply said that while some states like Haryana and Maharashtra pay additional top-ups as high as Rs 10,250 and Rs 8,500 respectively, Jammu and Kashmir’s support remains limited to Rs 600 and Rs 300 per month, despite rising inflation and workload on field workers.The ministry added that under the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, several steps have been taken to improve working conditions, including performance-based incentives, 20 days of annual leave, 180 days of paid maternity leave, and paid absence for miscarriage or abortion up to 45 days.Further, Anganwadi Workers and Helpers are now covered under life insurance and accident insurance schemes, and are eligible for Rs 5 lakh annual health insurance under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, following the Union Budget announcement for FY 2024–25.In terms of career progression, the Centre has directed that 50% of Anganwadi Worker posts be reserved for promotion of experienced Anganwadi Helpers, and 50% of Supervisor posts for promotion of Anganwadi Workers, based on five years of service and other eligibility criteria.States and UTs, including Jammu and Kashmir, have also been requested to adopt a uniform retirement date of 30th April each year to enable structured human resource planning.The government is encouraging all eligible Anganwadi Workers and Helpers to voluntarily enrol in the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan pension scheme to ensure post-retirement financial security, it said.