OD-ANGANWADI-PACKAGE

Odisha government Saturday

announced a "special package" for 1.45 lakh anganwadi workers,

helpers and mini-anganwadi workers, raising their monthly

honorarium effective from October 2018 and increasing their

disengagement years from 60 years to 62 years.

Announcing the pre-poll sops for them, Chief Minister

Naveen Patnaik said the honorarium of anganwadi workers has

been enhanced to Rs 7,500 from Rs 6,000 per month while the

mini-anganwadi workers would get Rs 5,375 instead of Rs 4,125.

Similarly, Patnaik said, the angwanwadi helpers will

get Rs 3,750 per month against their earlier honorarium of Rs

3,000.

"The special package will have an additional burden of

Rs 73.39 crore per annum on the state government," he said.

These categories of workers fall under the Integrated

Child Development Scheme (ICDS) of the Centre and their pay is

shared, not equally, by both the the central and the state

governments.

The burden of this raise would entirely be borne by

the state government, Woman and Child Development Minister

Prafulla Samal said.

Samal said there were 62,171 anganwadi centres and

10,416 mini-anganwadi centres across the state engaged in

different activities.

Patnaik also announced increase in the disengagement

age of anganwadi workers, helpers and mini-anganwadi workers

to 62 years from 60 years.

"At the time of exit at 62 years, an amount of Rs

20,000 will be paid to anganwadi workers, Rs 15,000 to

min-angwanwadi workers and Rs 10,000 to anganwadi helpers as a

measure of social security," the chief minister said.

Patnaik said 50 per cent posts of Anganwadi

supervisors will now be filled up from among anganwadi

workers.

The anganwadi workers, who form the backbone of ICDS

network, will now be entitled to avail 15 days of vacation

during pick summer/period of heat wave, Patnaik said.

He, however, said the key activities as prescribed by

the government will continue during the period.

The exact dates of vacation will be notified keeping

in view the prevailing condition.