In a major welfare push for frontline childcare staff, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Monday transferred ₹1,000 each via DBT to 1.22 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers for the purchase of two uniforms. The announcement was made during a programme at the Chief Minister’s residence in Jaipur.
Calling Anganwadi workers the “foundation builders of the nation’s future”, the Chief Minister said they play a critical role in strengthening early childhood development and nation-building. Alongside the DBT transfer, beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Lado Protsahan Yojana, and Kalibai Bhil Yojana were also handed over cheques.
The CM highlighted that the state government has taken multiple steps over the last two years to strengthen the Anganwadi ecosystem. These include a 10% increase in honorarium for Anganwadi workers, helpers, and other honorarium-based staff from April 1, 2026, regular repair and upgrading of centres, and distribution of smartphones to Anganwadi workers and women supervisors.
He also underlined the Amrit Aahar Yojana, under which children aged 3–6 years are receiving hot milk five days a week at Anganwadi centres. In another worker-focused announcement, Sharma said the government will soon provide free eye check-ups and spectacles for Anganwadi workers.
Linking the initiative to broader grassroots development, the Chief Minister urged workers to actively contribute suggestions under the Mukhyamantri Viksit Gram-Ward Abhiyan, being run from March 19 to May 15, to help shape village and ward-level development roadmaps.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, Sharma said that over 16 lakh women have already become “Lakhpati Didis” in Rajasthan, while the loan limit under the scheme has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh in the current budget. He added that women associated with dairy and livestock activities are also benefiting from the ₹5 per litre milk subsidy, alongside schemes like PM Matru Vandana Yojana and Maa Voucher Yojana.
