Agartala, Oct 01: Approval has been received for establishing 55 more new Anganwadi centres in the state. These new centres will be set up under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.
Once the new centres become operational, the total number of Anganwadi centres in the state will rise to 10,534. Currently, 10,479 Anganwadi centres are operational in the state, Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy shared this at a press conference on Thursday.
He said the new Anganwadi centres have been sanctioned with the aim of delivering nutrition and other services more effectively to children and mothers in tribal-dominated and remote areas. Emphasis is also being placed on improving the infrastructure of Anganwadi centres. Under PM JANMAN of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, a total of Rs 2.40 crore has been sanctioned as the first instalment for constructing permanent buildings for 83 Anganwadi centres.
At the press conference, he said that under the National Family Benefit Scheme, run under the Union Ministry of Rural Development, a one-time financial assistance of Rs 20,000 is provided to a below-poverty-line family if its primary earner, aged between 18 and 60, dies suddenly.
In the current 2026-27 financial year, 504 families have already been identified and Rs 20,000 each has been paid directly into their bank accounts. A total of Rs 1.80 crore has been spent on this.
The Social Welfare Minister also said it has been decided to provide some additional benefits and support to Anganwadi workers and helpers, besides their monthly honorarium.
He said that, on the occasion of Poshan Maah, Rs 500 per centre is being provided to each Anganwadi centre for organising community-based events.
The payment process is under way through the concerned CDPOs, and Anganwadi workers are expected to receive the money before Durga Puja. A total of Rs 52,39,500 is being spent for the 10,479 Anganwadi centres.
He said a decision has been made to provide incentives to Anganwadi workers and helpers. Eligible Anganwadi workers who complete 80 percent height and weight measurement management as per the Poshan Tracker and 60 percent home visits are being given an incentive of Rs 500 per month, while eligible Anganwadi helpers who meet the condition of keeping the Anganwadi centre open for at least 21 days a month are being given Rs 250 per month.
The process of paying incentives for a total of seven months, from January to July this year, is under way, and they are expected to receive this money before Durga Puja. A total of Rs 4,70,83,000 is being spent on this.
Regarding the payment of recharge money for mobile phones used by Anganwadi workers for official work, the Social Welfare and Social Education Minister said that recharge money from April to August this year has already been paid.
The process of paying the recharge money for September, October and November is under way. Anganwadi workers are expected to receive this money before Durga Puja. A total of Rs 56,58,660 will be spent on this.
At the press conference, the Social Welfare Minister said that for the 2026-27 financial year, Rs 1,000 per Anganwadi centre has been allocated for contingency, totalling Rs 1,04,79,000. For purchasing uniforms or sarees and blouses for Anganwadi workers and helpers, Rs 1,000 per person has been allocated, totalling Rs 2,09,58,000.
He also said that Rs 1,500 per Anganwadi centre will be given to Anganwadi workers for medicine kits, for which a total of Rs 1,57,18,500 has been allocated. On the occasion of Durga Puja, each Anganwadi worker and helper will be given a festival grant of Rs 2,610 and a festival advance of Rs 5.000.
On the incentives payable under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), he said that eligible Anganwadi workers who help provide PMMVY benefits to pregnant and lactating mothers are being given five months' incentive at Rs 150 for the first instalment, Rs 100 for the second instalment, and Rs 250 in the case of a second girl child. A total of Rs 13 lakh will be spent on this.
On the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) feeding bills, the Social Welfare Minister said that, with funds received from the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, outstanding SNP feeding bills of Anganwadi workers up to July 2026 have been paid.
A total of Rs 23,39,08,000 has been spent on this. In addition, the third instalment was received from the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development on September 30, 2026. Using these funds, the outstanding feeding bills of Anganwadi workers for August and September this year will be paid promptly.
He said the new Anganwadi centres will make it possible to deliver services to more children and mothers in the state.
In addition, initiatives have been taken to strengthen the department's services by improving infrastructure and ensuring various financial benefits for Anganwadi workers and helpers. Also present at the press conference were the department's Secretary Tapan Das and Director L. Ranchal.