In a major decision benefiting anganwadi workers and assistants in Madhya Pradesh, the Government today decided to double their honorarium.

The decision to double the honorarium of anganwadi (mother and child care centres) workers and assistants from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 and Rs 750 to Rs 1,500, respectively was taken by State Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here.

A total of 78,929 anganwadi workers and an equal number of assistants would benefit from this move, official sources said, adding it will put an additional burden of over Rs 22.39 crores on the exchequer.

The Cabinet also decided to make available two saris every year to all anganwadi workers and assistants. A sum of Rs 200 per sari will be deposited in their bank accounts for the purpose, the sources said.

This decision put an additional burden of over Rs 6.31 crores on the Government, they said.

In order to provide suitable breakfast to the children aged between three and six years, the Cabinet has decided to provide puffed rice (salted/sweet/mixed) instead of khichdi and other related diets.

With a view to plug leakage in the public distribution system, the Government has decided to install global positioning system (GPS) instrument on vehicles transporting food grains, sugar and kerosene under PDS, the sources added.