New Delhi, Sep 19: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the extension for one year, during FY 2018-19, of special financial package for implementation of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission for Jammu and Kashmir.
However, there would be “no additional financial implication” of the decision, the government said.
The Cabinet also approved allocation of funds to the state under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) on a need basis for implementation of the special package without linking it with poverty ratio.
“There is no additional financial implication as the approval is to extend the timeline to cover two-thirds of the vulnerable households in the state within the originally approved financial outlay of Rs 755.32 crore. An amount of Rs 143.604 crore will be required for the period of one year during 2018-19,” an official release said.
The government said the extension would ensure coverage of all the blocks in Jammu and Kashmir under DAY-NRLM and ensure “social inclusion, social development, promotion of livelihoods” and lead to poverty alleviation in the state.
It said that owing to “unavoidable reasons and disturbed conditions” in Jammu and Kashmir, the special package as approved in May 2013 could not be fully implemented.
The state administration had requested the Centre to consider extension of the earlier approved implementation schedule of the special package and continued funding of DAY-NRLM in the state without linking allocation with poverty ratio during this extended period.
“This will help in covering all the vulnerable rural households in the state, estimated at two-thirds of the total number of households, within a definite time frame.
“It will ensure mobilization of households under the auto inclusion category and households with at least one deprivation category listed in the socio-economic caste Census-2011,” the release said.
Meanwhile, The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved an increase in the honorarium for Anganwadi and Asha workers which will become effective next month.
Anganwadi workers receiving Rs 3,000 per month will now get Rs 4,500. Similarly, those at mini-Anganwadi centres receiving Rs 2,200 per month will now get Rs 3,500.
The honorarium for Anganwadi helpers has also been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,250 per month, the Cabinet said in a statement.
Anganwadi workers and helpers using techniques such as common application software (ICDS-CAS) will get additional performance-based incentives ranging between Rs 250 and Rs 500, it said.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also given its approval to increase routine and recurring incentives under the National Health Mission for Asha workers from Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 per month, the statement said.
The prime minister had announced the hike in monthly honorariums for Anganwadi and Asha workers on September 11.
There are around 14 lakh Anganwadis or child care centres in rural areas across the country and 10 crore beneficiaries, including children under the age of six, pregnant women and lactating mothers. There are a total of 12,83,707 Anganwadi workers and 10,50,564 helpers.
There are a total of 10,23,136 accredited social health activists (Asha) across the country.
