Chief Minister Of Bihar Nitish Kumar announces significant honorarium hike for over 120,000 Anganwadi workers, sparking debate over timing and adequacy.
Sunita Devi has spent eight years walking dusty village paths in Madhubani district, weighing babies, distributing nutrition packets, and teaching mothers about child care. As an Anganwadi worker earning ₹7,000 monthly, she’s the face of rural Bihar’s largest child welfare program—and now she’s getting a raise.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced Sunday that Bihar will increase monthly honoraria for Anganwadi workers from ₹7,000 to ₹9,000, while their assistants will see pay rise from ₹4,000 to ₹4,500. The cabinet approved the decision Monday, benefiting over 120,000 frontline workers across the state’s 38 districts.
The timing is unmistakable: Bihar faces assembly elections in early 2025, and Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is courting women voters who form the backbone of rural communities.
The Frontline Force
Bihar’s 115,000 Anganwadi centers serve as the delivery points for India’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the world’s largest early childhood program. These village-level centers provide supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, immunization, and health services to children under six and pregnant women.
The workers—predominantly local women with basic education—juggle multiple roles as educators, health monitors, and community mobilizers. They conduct growth screenings, distribute take-home rations, and coordinate with health departments for immunizations and medical camps.
“Anganwadi workers and assistants play a crucial role in improving the nutrition and living standards of children and pregnant women in the state,” Kumar wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Honoring their significant role, we have decided to increase their honorarium.”
Progress Amid Persistent Challenges
Bihar’s child health indicators tell a story of gradual improvement. Infant mortality has dropped from 61 per 1,000 live births in 2005 to 32 in recent years under Kumar’s tenure. Child stunting, while still affecting 42% of children under five, has declined from historically higher levels.
Studies show ICDS participation correlates with a 13 percentage point reduction in underweight children and improved immunization rates. In Bihar, full program utilization reaches 63% of pregnant mothers in some districts, contributing to better birth outcomes.
Yet significant gaps remain. Only two-thirds of eligible mothers receive supplementary nutrition, hampered by infrastructure deficits and social barriers. Many centers lack basic amenities like electricity or clean water, affecting service quality and attendance.
The Politics of Welfare
This pay hike continues Kumar’s pattern of pre-election welfare announcements. In July, his government increased incentives for ASHA health workers and Mamta program staff. Earlier promises included free electricity for households consuming up to 125 units monthly and pension increases from ₹200 to ₹1,100.
Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has dismissed such moves as electoral populism. Social media reactions reflect mixed sentiments, with some praising the government’s responsiveness while others question whether ₹9,000 monthly—roughly $108—constitutes a living wage.
“Can anyone even survive on this? This is less than even the stationery allowance for MLAs in Bihar,” one Twitter user commented.
A Modest Step Forward
The 28% increase for workers and 12.5% for assistants, while welcome, remains modest compared to inflation and living costs. Bihar’s Anganwadi pay still lags behind states like Delhi, where workers earn up to ₹11,220 plus allowances.
Worker unions have long demanded regularization of employment status—currently classified as “honorary” rather than salaried positions—along with benefits like insurance and pensions. The recent hike addresses immediate financial concerns but doesn’t resolve deeper structural issues.
Beyond the Numbers
For workers like Sunita Devi in Madhubani, the extra ₹2,000 monthly represents tangible recognition of their contributions. But the true test of Bihar’s commitment to child welfare lies in addressing systemic challenges: upgrading infrastructure, improving supply chains for nutritional supplements, and providing comprehensive training.
As Bihar approaches elections, this announcement tests Kumar’s welfare narrative against opposition demands for more substantial reforms. For the 120,000 women who form the backbone of rural child care, it’s a step forward—but the journey toward equitable recognition and adequate compensation continues.
The state’s Anganwadi workers have helped reduce child mortality and improve nutrition outcomes over two decades. Whether this latest gesture translates into sustained program improvements—or remains a pre-poll promise—will determine its lasting impact on Bihar’s most vulnerable children.
