Anganwadi workers (AWWs) are the front line and pivotal anchors of India’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the largest outreach programme in the world. Yet, their efforts are often not recognised adequately even when you hear of innovative efforts such as those by the Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) in Maharashtra. It has chalked out a child and learning-friendly teaching model that has pushed up attendance in the anganwadis by nearly 4,000 children in three months. So impressed is the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) of the union Ministry of Women and Child Development that it wants the framework to be modified and emulated by other states. While the committee that put together the winning syllabus for the pre-primary children in Pune deserves fulsome praise, it is the AWWs and anganwadi helpers (AWHs) who deserve the most commendation. Anyone with even a nodding acquaintance with the objectives of the ICDS and the work and pay conditions of these workers would realise the odds they face.
The ICDS’ objectives and aims have a mind-boggling range. AWWs, assisted by the helpers, are supposed to look after contraceptive counselling, neonatal and postnatal care, nutrition supplementation, vaccination, non-formal pre-primary education covering children in the 0 to 6 years range and women in the 15 to 49 years category. The scheme covers 7.5 crore children and nearly 1.8 crore pregnant and lactating mothers in approximately 7,000 blocks in the country. For all practical purposes, the AWWs are community activists who are the first line of contact for the beneficiaries of the government’s welfare programmes. There are many cases where the AWWs have been instrumental in preventing child marriages. And yet, the nearly 12 lakh AWWs and 11 lakh AWHs working in 13 lakh anganwadi centres and mini-centres in the country are not government employees. They are “honorary” or “part-time” workers who receive an honorarium. Since their pay is shared between the centre and the respective state/union territory government, the AWWs get Rs 5,000 a month and the AWHs receive Rs 3,000. Even this paltry amount is not paid in time and these women have to hold protests and dharnas demanding pending wages of six and even 11 months. Paradoxically, while these women workers looking after children and women from the most vulnerable sections of society are accountable to many bureaucratic masters, when it comes to their pay and benefits, despite working directly under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, they are deemed “voluntary workers”. They lack training (the number of AWWs training centres is pitifully small) and support in terms of teaching materials.
Since the unique nature of the ICDS is much touted, there have been a number of studies to assess its efficacy. Most of them come to similar conclusions. They point out that a majority of the centres function from rented or donated spaces that are in an abysmal condition. In addition, infrastructure in these centres is neither child- nor adult-friendly and they lack toilets and running water supply. The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) performance audit of the scheme has also revealed shortcomings by pointing out that Rs 57.82 crore was diverted to activities not permitted under the scheme in the five states it checked. The report also mentions shortage of staff at all levels, poor hygiene and sanitation in 52% of the anganwadis, lack of medicine kits in 33-49% of the anganwadis due to failure of the state governments in spending funds sent by the centre.
The government launched the Anganwadi Karyakartri Bima Yojana in 2004 but organisations like the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) have pointed out that even this addition to their measly “pension” is totally inadequate. The AIFAWH has also been demanding provident fund, gratuity, and medical and accident claims’ benefits for AWWs and helpers. It has pointed out that the ICDS is in danger of being taken over by corporate houses anxious to fulfil their corporate social responsibility (CSR) quota and enjoy tax benefits. The ICDS’ aims emphasise the “joyful and stimulating” environment to be provided to the three to six age group of underprivileged children. The idea is to ensure that parents are encouraged to send their children to attend the anganwadis. The Pune ZP’s syllabus has succeeded because it has taken into consideration the needs and background of the children who come to the centres. Instead of pushing the children into rooms as soon as they arrive, the first hour is given to games outside. Rote learning has been set aside in favour of theme-based songs and fun activity. But ultimately, it is the motivational levels of the AWWs and the helpers that would be the prime factor in translating the model into practice. It is these workers who need secure job conditions in order to ensure that India’s children and young mothers are saved the perils of malnutrition.
