Uttarakhand Proposes Anganwadi and ASHA Honorarium Increases for Approximately 50,000 Workers

The news

Uttarakhand is set to increase the honorarium of its Anganwadi workers and helpers, and is also considering a similar raise for ASHA workers, with proposals now under government review. The state has more than 20,000 Anganwadi centres employing about 35,000 workers and helpers, and approximately 15,000 ASHA workers. The Anganwadi increase, announced by the Chief Minister, is expected to take effect from December 2026, pending approval from the finance and personnel departments and the state Cabinet.

Under the proposed plan, Anganwadi workers' honorarium may rise from the current ₹9,300 to ₹12,000, with part of the increase linked to incentives, following a model similar to Uttar Pradesh. Anganwadi helpers currently receive ₹5,250 in honorarium and ₹250 as incentive. The department has sent the proposal to the government, and officials said the increase may come with conditions on working days and performance. For ASHA workers, the Directorate General of Health has proposed a state-sector honorarium increase of ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 per month, and incentives under the National Health Mission may also be raised. The final decision rests with the state government.

What is the Anganwadi system under ICDS?

The Anganwadi system operates under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, which the Government of India launched on 2 October 1975. The scheme was started after the National Policy for Children was adopted in 1974. Anganwadi centres provide a package of six services: supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and health education, immunisation, health check-ups, and referral services. The centres are the primary platform for implementing the ICDS scheme at the grassroots level.

What is the current payment structure?

Anganwadi workers in Uttarakhand currently receive ₹9,300 as honorarium and ₹500 as an incentive per month. Anganwadi helpers get ₹5,250 honorarium and ₹250 incentive. ASHA workers receive a state-sector honorarium, with additional incentives from the National Health Mission. The proposed increases aim to improve the financial support for these frontline personnel who provide nutrition, preschool education, and community health services.

How will the increase be structured?

The Anganwadi worker honorarium increase to ₹12,000 is planned to be partly added to the basic honorarium and partly paid as an incentive, similar to the Uttar Pradesh model. This means the final take-home amount may depend on meeting certain conditions, such as working days and performance. The ASHA increase of ₹1,500–₹2,000 per month is proposed from the state sector, with potential additional increases in NHM incentives. Neither proposal has been finally approved, and the state government must decide on the exact structure and conditions.

What is the next step for approval?

The Anganwadi proposal requires concurrence from the finance and personnel departments before it is placed before the state Cabinet for final approval. The intended start date for the increased payment is December 2026, subject to this process. The ASHA proposal has been sent to the government by the Directorate General of Health, and the final decision will be taken at the government level.