Anganwadi workers to be honoured next month

NEW DELHI: The National Level Anganwadi Workers (AWW) Awards to motivate grass-root level child care functionaries, which were pending for the past three years, will be given next month to 118 workers.

The workers will be honoured by Union Minister Maneka Gandhi at a function on December 1. They will be given Rs 25,000 cash and a citation.

"The process of selection of workers for the awards was pending for the last three years as we did not receive nominations from state governments even after repeated reminders. The matter was taken up again this year and the selection process for 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 was completed," Ministry officials said.

Out of 118 nominees, 39 have been shortlisted for the years 2011-12, 38 for 2012-13 and 41 are selected for 2013-14.

Ministry officials said the annual awards given to AWWs for showing exemplary dedication and performance were last held in 2012.

Formulated in 2000-2001 under Centrally Sponsored Integrated Child Development Services ( ICDS), the awards are given to motivate AWWs.

Those chosen for the national level awards have been selected from the state level awardees and judged on the basis of their contribution to supplementary nutrition, child care, convergence with health department, pre-school education, nutrition and health education, community participation and cleanliness, hygiene and innovation.

AWWs are frontline functionaries working at the grass root level in more than 13.5 lakh Anganwadi Centers on honorary basis for implementing government's Integrated Child Development Scheme.

There are over 1022 lakh beneficiaries under ICDS scheme, comprising 829 children between 0-6 years and 193 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers. The successful implementation of the programme rests on the commitment of AWWs