Good news: AP Govt addresses concerns of Anganwadi workers

Amaravati: In a major relief to the Anganwadi workers and helpers (AWWs and AWHs) who were staging protests across the state, the Andhra Pradesh government has taken steps to address their demands and ordered the release of Rs 80 crore funds to meet their immediate needs. 

The Anganwadi workers and helpers play a crucial role in providing care and support to pregnant and lactating women at over 55,000 centres in the state. The Government has responded favourably to some their demands which are like enhancement of salaries of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, Gratuity, conversion of Mini to main Anganwadi, increasing the end of service benefit, increase the promotional age Anganwadi worker to helper, Retirement age of AWWs and AWHs Should be increased to 62 years on par with govt employees, Pending AWC rent TA bills, SR Sampoorna Poshana menu charges should be increased and the Government should supply the gas cylinder to AWCs etc.

After holding several rounds of talks with the representatives of the unions of Anganwadi workers, the state government has implemented following of their demands: 

1. The government has enhanced the honorarium of AWW and helpers to Rs. 11,500/- per month to AWWs and Rs 7,000/- per month to AWHs from 1st July 2019. In terms of honorarium to AWWs and AWHs, Andhra Pradesh state ranks sixth and fourth in the country. 
2. Age limit has been increased from 45 years to 50 years for promotion of Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) as Anganwadi Workers (AWWs)
3. Anganwadi Workers will be able to claim the TA/DA monthly while the Anganwadi helpers bimonthly effective from 20 December 2023
4. Government has fixed the upper age limit for continuation of Anganwadi workers and helpers as 62 years
5. Anganwadi workers and helpers who have completed 62 years will get Rs.1 lakh and Rs.40,000/- as service benefit respectively 
6. Government is actively considering the proposal to convert the mini Anganwadi centres (totalling 6,837) to main centres 
7.  Government has released funds to Anganwadi Centers which are being run in rented buildings. As part of this, Rs.66.54 crores have been sanctioned for 16,575 rental buildings in rural/tribal areas and 6,705 rental buildings in urban areas. 
8. Additionally, Rs.7.81 crores have been released for the consumables of Anganwadi Workers (like Soap, Phenyl, etc.) 
9. Rs.6.36 crore were released for the maintenance of 21,206 Anganwadi Centers (at the rate of Rs.3000/- per center). These funds are to be spent by the Anganwadi workers as per the requirement of the Centre

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