The central government has sanctioned the upgrade of 1,266 anganwadi centres (AWCs), which will lead to extra staffing, higher honorariums and better facilities.
This was informed by Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh today. The AWCs will be upgraded from mini to main centres and 51 new women supervisors will be appointed.
Honorariums will increase by Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,500 per month. As part of the upgrades, anganwadi helpers will be appointed at an honorarium of Rs 2,250 per month and there will be benefits also in the supply of uniforms, medicines, equipment and furniture and administrative expenses, etc.
The overall total fund requirement amounts to Rs 826.38 lakh, out of which Rs 743.74 lakh is the Centre’s 90 percent share and Rs 82.64 lakh the state’s 10 percent share.
“Some of the conditions put forward will be met by the state government and this is a major development because these centres all along had just one worker. Now this number has doubled apart from the appointment of supervisors and helpers,” Lyngdoh explained. .
The central government has also approved the sanction of 266 new AWCs, which will lead to the creation of 266 anganwadi worker posts and as many helper posts.
Supplementary nutrition will be provided to beneficiaries for 300 days in a year as per guidelines issued by the central government. The state will take immediate action for recruitment and training of functionaries, procurement of goods and equipment as per rules so that all centres are operational at the earliest.
The state has around 1,500 villages that are without such centres but that will now reduce with the creation of the 266 new centres. Power Minister addresses MNRE-Organized Meet on Renewable Energy.