The monthly honorarium of Anganwadi teachers employed under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) has been hiked from Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,500.
Similarly, the honorarium of teachers at mini-Anganwadi centres and helpers at Anganwadi centres has also been enhanced from Rs 4,500 to Rs 6,000. The twin decisions were taken at a meeting of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao with Anganwadi workers as part of his Janahitham programme with a cross section of population at his camp office on Monday.
Mr. Rao also announced that the nomenclature Anganwadi workers be changed to Anganwadi teachers. Within hours of the announcement, a government order modifying the nomenclature was issued.
This is the second hike in honorarium for personnel at Anganwadi centres in less than two years. It was hiked from Rs 4,200 to Rs 7,000 for teachers and Rs 2,200 to Rs 4,500 for helpers in February 2015. It will benefit 67,411 teachers and helpers at 35,700 centres in the State.
A release after the meeting said it was also decided that the Anganwadi teachers will be promoted as supervisors on the basis of their seniority and qualifications. The teachers as well as helpers will be insured. They will be given priority in the allotment of double bedroom houses. Fine rice will be cooked for consumption by pregnant and lactating women and children at the centres from next month. The cooked rice will be home delivered in May as the women and children will find it difficult to go to the centres due to oppressive summer.
During the interaction with Anganwadi workers, Mr. Rao said it was unfortunate that poor women went for work even during their pregnancy. Therefore, it was decided that the State government take care of the pregnant and lactating women. He appealed to the participants to make the government programmes for women a success.
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