Bhubaneswar, Dec. 2: Anganwadi workers are all set to don uniforms.

“We have already given orders to the Boyanika, a state government-owned cooperative, to supply 1.22 lakh sarees to the government. The sarees will be given to all the 56,000 anganwadi workers in the state,” said women and child development minister Pramilla Mallick.

However, the government is yet to take a decision whether uniforms will be given to anganwadi helpers, the casual employees who assist the anganwadi workers.

Sources in the Boynika confirmed they had got orders to supply sarees.

“The government has asked to provide golden yellow with maroon border sarees for anganwadi workers. One good quality saree will cost around Rs 390,” said a Boyanika official.

Though the state has 60,000 anganwadi centres, 4,000 posts are still lying vacant. While an anganwadi worker gets Rs 2,000 a month as honorarium, a helper gets Rs 750 for the part-time services.

While a girl in the coastal belt with matriculate qualification is eligible to become an anganwadi worker; in the tribal belt, girls who have passed out the class VIII exam are eligible for the post.

Today, Pramilla said in the Assembly that all anganwadi workers had already been covered under insurance scheme. “The government is working for better promotional avenues for the workers.” She said that 30 per cent posts of supervisors, who monitor four to five anganwadi centres, “will be reserved for anaganwadi workers. Once they become the supervisor, they will be entitled to get a salary of Rs 14,500.”

Departmental sources said Rs 57.89 crore has been allocated for staff salary during the current financial year. To continue with different welfare programmes through anganwadi centres, the Centre has given Rs 412.88 crore and the state has provided its matching grant of Rs 45.85 crore.

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 2: After school teachers, its now the turn of anaganwadi workers to don uniforms. An anganwadi worker who works at village level has a multi-purpose role to perform. A lowly paid government employee, an anganwadi worker is entrusted with the task of child care at the grassroots level.

“ We have already given orders to the Boyanika, a state government owned cooperative, to supply 1.22 lakh sarees to the government. The sarees will be given to all the 56,000 anganwadi workers of the state,” said Women and Child Development Minister Pramilla Mallick.

However, the government is yet to take a decision whether uniforms would be given to anganwadi helpers. While the anaganwadi worker is the head of an anaganwadi center, the person is assisted by casual employees called anganwadi helpers.

Sources in the Boynika confirmed that they had got orders to supply sarees. “Government has asked to provide golden yellow with maroon border sarees for angwanwadi workers. All steps are being taken to provide good quality sarees. One saree will cost around Rs 390,” said official of the Boyanika.

Though the State has 60,000 anganwadi centers, four thousand posts are still lying vacant. While an angawnadi workers is getting Rs 2,000 as honorarium per month, the helper gets Rs 750 for the part time services rendered by her.

While a girl in the coastal belt with matriculatequalification is eligible to become an anganwadi worker, in the tribal belt girls who have passed standard eight are eligible to for the post.

In reploy to queries from members in the State assembly today, Minister Pramila Mallick said that all the anganwadi workers had already been covered under insurance scheme. “ The government is working for better promotional avenues for anganwadi workers.' She said that 30 per cent posts of supervisors, who monitor four to five anganwadi centres, 'will be reserved for anaganwadi workers. Once they become the supervisor, they will be entitled to get a salary of Rs 14,500,” Mallick said.

Departmental sources said that Rs 57.89 crore allocation has been made for the staff salary during the current financial year. To continue with different welfare programmes through anagwanwadi centers, the Centre has given Rs 412.88 crore and the State has provided its matching grant of Rs 45.85 crore.