The Centre today blamed the state governments for shortage of anganwadi supervisors and workers across the country.
"The reasons for shortage of anganwadi supervisors and workers across the country are largely due to administrative procedural and legal delays in filling up of vacant posts by state governments and UT administrations," Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
She said her Ministry has repeatedly impressed upon the state governments and UT administrations to take all required measures for early operationalisation of sanctioned AWCs and mini-AWCs, including filling up the vacant positions.
As per the norms of the integrated child development services scheme, the Centre is responsible for planning and policy issues, whereas the onus of implementing the scheme is on the state governments.
At present, there are 34,639 supervisors, 12,73,137 anganwadi workers and 11,63,199 helpers in 13.39 lakh anganwadi centres in the country, Tirath said.
The AWWs and AWHs are paid an honorarium of Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,500 per month and the cost sharing between the Centre and state/UT for payment of honorarium and emoluments is 90:10.
Tirath also said review committee constituted to examine the levels of honorarium and related issues of anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers had submitted its report in 2007 and the recommendations, including enhancement of honorarium and provision of uniform for them, have been implemented.
