Odisha Cabinet raises qualification criteria for Anganwadi workers, mandates graduation for promotion

In a significant policy move aimed at enhancing service quality in the State’s welfare sector, the Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment making a Graduation degree mandatory for the promotion of Anganwadi workers.

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Chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Cabinet cleared the proposal under the Odisha Children’s and Women’s Welfare Service (Amendment) Rules, 2025, stipulating that new applicants to the Junior Grade of the service must possess a graduate or equivalent qualification from a recognised university.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, briefing reporters after the meeting, clarified that the new qualification requirement will not apply to existing Anganwadi workers, who will remain eligible under the earlier rules. "This step will improve the quality of service delivery and ensure better implementation of schemes focused on women and children," he said.

The Cabinet also approved the restructuring of the Odisha Subordinate Welfare Service and the Odisha Welfare Service, which includes the creation of 24 new posts at various levels to strengthen the administrative framework.

In the healthcare sector, the Cabinet gave its nod to the continued implementation of Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (EMAS) for the five-year period from 2023–24 to 2027–28. The proposal, submitted by the Health and Family Welfare Department, aims to ensure uninterrupted emergency response services across the State.

Chief Secretary Ahuja explains the need

“As new technologies are being adopted these days in Anganwadi centres, the eligibility criteria (educational qualification) for promotion of an Anganwadi worker to ICDS supervisor was changed from Matriculation to Graduation,” Chief Secretary Ahuja added.

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Notably, the Cabinet approved six key proposals in its meeting. This sets the stage for long-term strategic development as the State convenes to deliberate on Odisha Vision Document 2036. This forward-looking document aims to map out the developmental trajectory of Odisha over the next decade.