Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

Govt Doesn’t Have Data On Anganwadi Workers Who Died Due To Covid-19: Smriti Irani

July 23, 2022
Anganwadi Workers

The government informed Parliament on Friday, July 22 that there is no data available on the number of Anganwadi workers who have died due to COVID-19.

Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani while answering a question in the Lok Sabha said Anganwadi services were a scheme implemented by the states and Union Territories and not the Union government.

In his written response, Irani said, “As Anganwadi Services is a scheme implemented by states/UTs, the data on number of anganwadi workers who have died due to coronavirus is not available with this ministry,”.

However, she said Anganwadi workers and helpers, who were working amid the COVID-19 pandemic and were in constant contact with patients affected by the disease, were included in the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP).

She said that under the insurance scheme, workers and helpers will have a comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs 50 lakh, subject to some conditions.

Anganwadi workers were at the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. They were tasked with providing rations and essential items to children and nursing pregnant women during the nationwide lockdown in March 2020.