IMPHAL, June 27: Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai Devi has said that the due honorarium of above 12 months of Anganwadi workers and helpers will be paid as soon as the finance department releases the fund.
The Minister said this during the general budget discussion of Demand No 44 for Social Welfare Department amounting to Rs 275, 69, 74, 000 in the House today.
When the demand was under discussion, five opposition MLAs moved the Motion for Disapproval of Policy Cut and one MLA moved the Motion for Token Cut.
Replying to the cut motions, the Minister said that there was 100 percent funding from the Government of India for the maintenance of Anganwadi centres till 2008. However, from 2009 there was a change in the funding system and only 90 percent has been funded from the Centre while the 10 percent is being funded by the state.
As the state government could not provide the 10 percent funding there is a due of Rs 54 lakhs in the department, she said.
A memorandum has been submitted to the concerned Ministry of the Government of India in regard to the matter, the Minister further said.
The 1st and 2nd installments of Rs 26, 66, 57, 000 for the financial year 2013-14 has been sanctioned and as soon as the finance department releases the fund the due honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers will be paid, the Minister assured the House.
Under Social Welfare Department, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) Block 42 has been opened; the department is trying to open ICDS Block 43 at Lilong, the Minister said.
A total of 9507 Anganwadi centres have been opened in the state so far, 451 is awaited and another 298 mini Anganwadi centres have also been opened and 1254 is awaited, the Minister said while adding that there is no provision as of now to pay the rents of the rooms used by the Anganwadi centres which do not have its own building.