Anganwadis role crucial in women empowerment

Chittoor: Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Project Officer (In-charge) S Lakshmi said on Wednesday that the State government has issued orders for implementation of hiked honorarium for the Anganwadi workers and helpers from April 2016.

She pointed out that honorarium and hiked amount will be credited through online into the accounts of Anganwadi staff. She advised them to submit their Aadhaar cards, voter identity cards and other relevant documents for address proof to the ICDS PO for making payment of honoraria through online. She asked the Anganwadi workers and helpers to open bank accounts.

The ICDS PO said that the government has issued orders to enhance honorarium of Anganwadi workers from Rs 4,200 to Rs 7,000 and for Anganwadi helpers from Rs 2,200 to Rs 4,200 per month. “1,122 are mini Anganwadi centres from the total of 4,762 in the district,” she stated adding that the government had agreed to hike the honorarium of Anganwadi staff after ascertaining their working conditions.

The PO further said that the role of Anganwadi centres will become more crucial in future. She stated that services of Anganwadi staff would be utilised for creating awareness about welfare development schemes among women. She asked the Anganwadi workers and helpers to keep their centre premises clean as they would be feeding food to children.

1,323 Anganwadi centres are running in permanent buildings, she said adding that the government has decided to construct permanent buildings for remaining Anganwadi centres in a phased manner. Lakshmi gave a call to Anganwadi staff to make success of second phase Pulse Polio Immunisation programme on February 21. She said that awards would be presented for the best Anganwadi centres in the district.