Abstract

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, launched in 1975, is one of India’s flagship programmes for early childhood care and development. Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) form the backbone of the scheme, delivering services such as supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-ups, referral services, preschool education, and health awareness to marginalized populations. Despite their critical role, the performance of AWWs is often constrained by socio-economic, infrastructural, and organizational challenges. This study investigates the job performance of Anganwadi Workers in Palwal district, Haryana, with a focus on their socio-personal characteristics, communication and psychological attributes, and the problems they face in discharging their duties. Data were collected from a random sample of 80 AWWs through structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings reveal that while a majority of workers demonstrate good to excellent job performance, systemic constraints such as inadequate honorarium, excessive workload, insufficient infrastructure, and limited refresher training hinder their effectiveness. The study concludes that strengthening infrastructure, enhancing training, improving community participation, and revising remuneration policies are critical for enhancing the performance of AWWs and, consequently, the effectiveness of ICDS.