Women & Child Dev ministry to improve working conditions of

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi has assured Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit that the ministry is seriously considering to improve the working conditions of Anganwadi workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi helpers (AWHs).
The Governor had earlier written to the union minister urging her to intervene and resolve the issues of AWWs and AWHs who are facing immense problems due to lack of facilities, an official release said.
Maneka assured the Governor that her ministry has been sincerely considering to improve the working conditions of AWWs and AWHs by extending facilities like paid absence on maternity, insurance cover under Anganwadi Karyakartri Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Suraksha Bima Yojana.

The Centre has taken measures to improve the working condition of AWWs and AWHs like raising their honorarium to Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,500 respectively, she said.
Assam government is also giving an honorarium of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 to AWWs and AWHs respectively, raising the accrued amount to Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,000 for AWWs and AWHs, the release said.
For the professional growth of AWWs, the ministry has issued guidelines on September 15, 2015 making inroads clear for absorption of 50 per cent of vacancies in the posts of supervisors for AWWs. Further 25 per cent of vacancies in the posts of AWWs are also reserved for Anganwadi helpers, it said.

The Governor hailed the steps taken by the ministry, the release added.