New Delhi, Dec 01: The Minister of Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi today gave away national level awards to several Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for Exceptional Achievement.
The awards were given for the years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14.
Gandhi said that Anganwadi workers are the most important functionary at the grassroot level for delivery of services under the Ministry’s flagship programme of Integrated Child Development Services.
Congratulating the award winners, the Minister said that they are a select few who have been chosen out of 24 lakh AWWs and are the pivot of the child welfare programme.
Maneka Sanjay Gandhi also announced that from this year that the guidelines have been revised to motivate the Anganwadi Workers.
Under the revised guidelines, 50% of vacancies in the posts of Supervisors would be filled up by promotion from amongst AWWs with 10 years of experience as AWWs and having the prescribed educational qualifications as per the Recruitment Rules for the post of Supervisor, the Minister explained.
Accordingly, instructions have been issued to the State Governments. Similarly, 50,000 anganwadis are being constructed under the MNREGA scheme of Rural Development Ministry to provide a suitable centre from which the AWWs can operate, the Minister disclosed.
The WCD Minister further said that the World Bank will now be providing funds for training of AWWs, and equipping them with tablets as well as weighing devices. NIPCCD (National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development) has been entrusted with the task of training the AWWs for which special training centres are being set up.