📍Role and Scale of Scheme-Based Workers (SBWs) ✅Magnitude of Workforce: Over 60 million workers are employed under various central schemes like ICDS (1975), NRHM, and Mid-Day Meal Scheme, with major groups being AWWs (13.5 lakh), AWHs (9.2 lakh), ASHAs (10.5 lakh), and MDMWs (25.1 lakh). ✅Crucial Public Role: These workers serve as the backbone of the welfare state, responsible for childcare, nutrition, early education, maternal health, and school enrolment across India. ✅Recognition but No Rights: they are denied basic labour rights, minimum wages, and social security. ✅State Suppression: States like Maharashtra invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (2017) to curb Anganwadi protests, ironically recognizing their work as “essential” without conferring corresponding rights. ✅In Ameerbi (2006), the SC denied Anganwadis “worker” status, but later relief came in Maniben (2022) where SC granted them gratuity rights under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. #gs2 #social_justice @upsc_polity_governance