The State has been conferred Diamond State Award for having been adjudged as the Best State in the country in Women Empowerment and welfare, which amply speaks about the Government commitment for well being of women folk in the State.

The State Government has announced the payment of arrears at the revised rates to the 37,000 Aanganwari functionaries in the State effective from April 1, 2011 in cash to be paid in the month of April, 2012. Besides, the honorarium of Aanganwari Workers has been enhanced from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 3,300, Aanganwari Helpers from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 1,700 and Mini Aanganwari Workers from Rs. 250 to Rs. 330 per month from February 1, 2012 onwards. This will put burden of more than 11.11 crore on state exchequer. This way, the State Government has provided financial benefit of Rs. 22.22 crore to the Aanganwari functionaries in the state in the recent years.

357 vacancies of Aanganwari workers and helpers in different parts of the state are being filled up. Moreover, 83 Aanganwari/Mini Aanganwari Centres in the left out villages in the state are also being set up. It has also been decided to give preference to the aanganwari workers/helpers in the appointment of tailoring teachers.

The Aanganwari workers and helpers have also been involved in looking after the health needs of the children at their adolescent age besides the health of prospective mothers in the rural areas. Moreover, the Aanganwari workers are link workers in the state and health department is initiating an extensive programme on Home Based New Born Care from the next financial year. The 40 officers of the Health and ICDS Department have been imparted training in Maharashtra and they would train Anganwari workers of the State. After implementation of this scheme, the women and neonates of rural areas would be benefitted and it is expected that IMR of the State would reduce further.

The wages of 18352 Anganwari Sahayikas has been enhanced by Rs. 200 per month. Earlier, they were being paid Rs. 1500 per month now are getting Rs. 1700 per month from February, 2012. The monthly wages of Anganwari Sahayikas working in 330 small Anganwari Kendras in the State have also been enhanced from Rs. 250 to Rs. 330 per month.

To facilitate Anganwari Workers and Helpers, 'Janshree Bima Yojna' has been started in all Anganwari Centres in the State. Under the scheme, a sum of 30,000 is being provided to the Anganwari Workers and Helpers in case of natural death, Rs. 75,000 in case of death due to accident or complete disability and Rs. 37,500 in case of partial disability.