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Rights of Scheme Based Workers

Rights of Scheme Based Workers

23-05-2025

What Happened?
 

  1. Scheme-Based Workers (SBWs) like Anganwadi Worker (AWW), Anganwadi Helper (AWH), ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist), and Mid-Day Meal Worker struggle for recognition as formal workers.
  2. Despite playing a vital role in delivering government welfare schemes, they continue to face denial of basic labour rights such as minimum wages, job security, and social security benefits.
  3. Important Points in the News:
    1. The Indian government depends on a huge workforce to run its social welfare schemes.
    2. These include workers like Anganwadi workers (AWWs), Anganwadi helpers (AWHs), ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists), and Mid-Day Meal Workers.
      1. There are around 60 million people working in such roles.
      2. These workers play a crucial role in implementation of the several government schemes like Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) and Mid-Day Meal Scheme etc.
      3. These workers perform essential tasks like Helping pregnant women and young children stay healthy, Improving nutrition, Helping children attend school regularly.

Difference between AWW, AWH, ASHA and Mid-Day Meal Worker:

Aspect

Anganwadi Worker (AWW)

Anganwadi Helper (AWH)

ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist)

Mid-Day Meal Worker

Affiliated Scheme

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

ICDS

National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)

Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Primary Role

Runs Anganwadi Centre, provides preschool education, nutrition, and health services

Assists AWW in daily Anganwadi Centre tasks

Acts as a community health mobilizer; links community with healthcare services

Prepares and distributes cooked mid-day meals in schools

Key Responsibilities

 Growth monitoring- Health referrals- Preschool learning- Record-keeping

 Cooking- Cleaning- Assisting AWW- Bringing children to AWC

Promotes institutional deliveries- Immunization- Family planning- Nutrition awareness

 Cooking meals- Serving children- Ensuring hygiene

Honorarium

Rs. 9678/- per month to Rs. 11,220/- per month

Rs. 4839/- per month to Rs. 5610/- per month.

Rs. 3000/- per month to Rs. 9000/- per month.

 

 

₹1,000 to ₹2,000/month (varies by state)

Employment Status

Not formal government employee

Not formal government employee

Not formal government employee

Not formal government employee

Social Security Benefits

Limited; some get gratuity (as per SC ruling)

Very limited

Very limited; no pension or insurance

Very limited

Work Environment

Anganwadi Centre

Anganwadi Centre

Field-based (household visits, community meetings)

Primary/Middle schools

Year Introduced

1975

1975 (as part of ICDS)

2005 (under NRHM)

1995 (MDM made a national scheme)

 

What is the Opinion of Trade Unions?

  1. Trade unions have taken their issues to the Indian Labour Conference (ILC).
  2. It is a meeting between workers, employers, and the government.
  3. In the 45th ILC, all members agreed that Scheme-based workers should be called “workers”, not volunteers.
  4. They should be given minimum wages, pension, insurance, and provident fund.
     

What did the Courts Say?

  1. In 2006, the Supreme Court said Anganwadi workers are not government employees because they don’t hold official posts.
  2. In 2022, the Supreme Court said Anganwadi workers are eligible for gratuity (a retirement benefit).
  3. In 2024, the Gujarat High Court said these workers do very important work. It asked the central and state governments to pay them minimum wages and work on making them regular employees.
     

What is the Government’s Stand?

  1. The government says giving full benefits to these workers will be too costly, especially as the number of workers will grow in the future.
     

What are the Challenges Associated with Scheme Based Workers?

  1. No official worker status: They are not legally recognised as government employees, so they miss out on many rights.
  2. Low and irregular pay: They are often paid very little, and sometimes their payments are delayed.
  3. Lack of job security: Their jobs are not permanent, so they can be removed anytime without much protection.
  4. No social security benefits: They do not get benefits like pension, provident fund, or health insurance.
  5. Ignored by policy makers: Governments delay decisions or avoid making strong policies to support these workers.
  6. No fixed system for wage hikes: There is no clear rule on when or how their wages will be increased.
  7. Risk of privatisation: Some schemes like ICDS are slowly being handed over to private players, risking employment and benefits.
  8. Physical and emotional stress: They work long hours doing important jobs like childcare and health services, but do not get the respect or support they deserve.

 

Way forward

  1. Give them official worker status: The government should recognise them as formal workers, not just volunteers, so they get equal rights and dignity.
  2. Ensure fair and regular wages: A fixed, minimum wage should be set for all SBWs, and payments must be made on time.
  3. Provide job security: Their jobs should be made permanent with clear terms and protection from sudden removal.
  4. Extend social security benefits: SBWs should get benefits like pension, health insurance, maternity leave, and provident fund just like other government employees.
     
  5. Create a national policy for SBWs: A clear and common national policy should be made to ensure uniform treatment of SBWs across all states.
  6. Include SBWs in labour laws: Existing labour laws should be extended to include SBWs, or new special laws should be made for them.
  7. Protect public welfare schemes from privatisation: Government should not hand over schemes like ICDS to private players, to ensure job safety and service quality.
  8. Set up grievance redressal systems: Easy and fast complaint resolution systems should be made to help workers when they face problems.
     

Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)

About:

  1. Launched in 1975
  2. ICDS is a unique early childhood development programme.
  3. Aimed to address malnutrition, health and also development needs of young children, pregnant and nursing mothers.

ICDS consists of 4 different components:

  1. Early Childhood Care Education & Development (ECCED)
  2. Care & Nutrition Counselling
  3. Health Services
  4. Community Mobilisation Awareness, Advocacy & Information, Education and Communication

Objectives:

  1. Institutionalise essential services and strengthen structures at all levels: 
    1. The government wants to run the ICDS scheme like a focused mission to stop malnutrition in children.
    2. It aims to make Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) strong and effective so they can act as the first support centre in the village for health, nutrition, and early learning.
    3. Special attention will be given to children below 3 years of age, as this is a very important stage for their growth and development.
    4. The focus is now on creating better early childhood care and learning environments.
    5. The plan also promotes local solutions and community-based child care, where villagers help design and run programs that suit their needs.

Beneficiary:

  1. Children 0–6 years of age.
  2. Pregnant and lactating mothers.
  3. Women 15-44 years of age.
  4. Since 1991, adolescent girls up to 18 years of age have been provided with non-formal education and training on health and nutrition.

Mid Day Meal Scheme 

About:

  1. The Mid-day Meal Scheme started in 1995 to give free lunch to school children during the day."
  2. It is mainly for children in primary (Class 1–5) and upper primary (Class 6–8) schools.

 

Benefits of the Scheme

  1. Children get better nutrition, which helps them grow and stay healthy.
  2. More children come to school and stay in school longer.
  3. Malnutrition problems in children go down.
  4. Children are able to focus better and learn more in class. All children eat together, which promotes equality among them.
  5. Parents save money because they don’t have to worry about one meal a day.
  6. Jobs are created for local people who cook and serve the meals.

National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)

About:

  1. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) waslaunched in 2005.
  2. Its goal is to give good quality, affordable, and easily available health care to people living in rural areas, especially to poor and vulnerable groups.
  3. Later, in 2013, the government also approved the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) for people in cities.
  4. NRHM and NUHM both now work together as parts of the bigger scheme National Health Mission (NHM).
  5. Under NRHM, special attention is given to states that need more help, like the Empowered Action Group (EAG) States, North Eastern States, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh.

 

Objective:

  1. Build a strong and people-friendly health care system that local communities help run.
  2. Bring together different departments (like water, sanitation, nutrition, and education) to work together for better health.
  3. Make sure health services follow proper quality standards (called Indian Public Health Standards) at every level.
  4. Focus more on results and improve the overall health of people in villages.

 

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