PM UNVEILS HIKE IN INCENTIVES OF ASHA, ANGANWADI WORKERS
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a hike in the monthly incentives of Asha and Anganwadi workers on Tuesday. All accredited social health activists (Asha) workers will also get free coverage under the two flagship insurance schemes of the government, Modi announced during a video interaction with Asha, ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife) and Anganwadi workers from across the country.
NEWDELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a substantial increase in the honorarium for Anganwadi and Asha (Accredited social health activists) workers from October in a move that is expected to help millions of women from relatively poor households
All Asha workers will also get free coverage under the two flagship insurance schemes of the government, Modi announced during a video interaction with Asha, ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife) and Anganwadi workers from across the country.
There are around 1.4 million Anganwadis or child care centres in rural areas across the country and a total of 1.28 million Anganwadi workers and a little over 1 million helpers. There are also a total of 1 million accredited Asha workers. Those who drew an honorarium of ₹3,000 will from now on get ₹4,500 and those who used to get ₹2,200 will get ₹3,500, Modi said. The honorarium of Anganwadi helpers will be hiked from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500, he added. In percentage terms, that works out to an increase of 50%, 59%, and 66.67% respectively.
The PM also announced that Anganwadi workers and helpers using techniques such as common application software (ICDSCAS) would get additional incentives. The incentives, ranging from ₹250 to ₹500, would be based on performance, he explained. The software monitors, in real time, the services provided by Anganwadis in the area of nutrition.
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah said the government’s decision would not only boost the morale of the Anganwadi and Asha workers but also improve their living standards and thus the quality of service.