Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced a significant increase in the monthly honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers, while accusing the previous state government of neglecting Anganwadi centres.
Speaking at an event in Ayodhya, where he distributed appointment letters to newly recruited Anganwadi workers and helpers, Yogi said the honorarium for Anganwadi workers would be increased from ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 per month. For helpers, the amount will rise from ₹4,000 to ₹6,000.
The chief minister also announced cashless healthcare coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually for Anganwadi workers, helpers and their families at empanelled hospitals, government hospitals and medical colleges. They will also receive three sarees every year instead of two.
Yogi said the government would also turn Anganwadi centres into “smart” facilities by providing smartphones to workers. In the first phase, 1.28 lakh smartphones have been provided for, enabling workers to record scheme-related data in real time and simplify their work.
The chief minister alleged that before 2017, many Anganwadi centres were in poor condition, lacked drinking water and proper seating, and children did not receive nutritious meals as intended. He claimed that funds meant for the centres were misused under the previous government.
Yogi said that when his government came to power in 2017, Anganwadi workers received only ₹3,000 as honorarium. His government subsequently increased it to ₹8,000 through a performance-based system and has now raised it further to ₹12,000.
He also highlighted the role played by Anganwadi workers, along with auxiliary nurse midwives and ASHA workers, during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, more than 70,000 Anganwadi centres across Uttar Pradesh have been given an organised structure over the past nine years.
Yogi also used the Ayodhya event to attack the Samajwadi Party, accusing it of opposing development projects and the construction of the Ram temple. He claimed that Ayodhya had previously suffered from poor electricity supply, inadequate roads and limited civic facilities.
He said the city has now undergone major transformation, with four-lane roads, an upgraded railway station, an international airport, an expanded railway network and the rejuvenated Ram Ki Paidi.
Around 12,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers attended the Ayodhya programme, while similar events were organised across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
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