Anganwadi worker is supervised by:

Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)

Explanation

The Anganwadi Worker (AWW) is a frontline functionary of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program.
The direct administrative and technical supervisor for a group of AWWs is the Mukhya Sevika, also known as the Anganwadi Supervisor.
A Mukhya Sevika provides on-the-job guidance, training, and support to the AWWs.
She is typically responsible for overseeing the functioning of about 20-25 Anganwadi Centres within a designated sector.

Option B: A Male Health Worker (Multipurpose Health Worker - Male) is part of the primary healthcare system under the Health Department. Their duties are related to disease control and environmental sanitation, and they do not have a supervisory role over Anganwadi Workers, who are part of the ICDS scheme under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Option C: This option is incorrect because only the Mukhya Sevika supervises the Anganwadi worker. The Male Health Worker is not part of the ICDS supervisory chain.
Option D: This option is incorrect because a designated supervisor for the Anganwadi worker exists within the ICDS framework.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Administrative hierarchy and supervision within the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the ICDS hierarchy is essential for community health nurses, who frequently collaborate with Anganwadi workers for delivering maternal and child health services, immunization, and nutrition programs.
Knowing the correct supervisory channel (AWW to Mukhya Sevika to CDPO) is vital for effective communication, escalating issues (like severe malnutrition cases or vaccine stockouts), and ensuring coordinated implementation of public health initiatives.
What if the question asked who is in charge of an entire ICDS project at the block level? The answer would be the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), who supervises the Mukhya Sevikas.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the direct supervisor of an Anganwadi worker.
This is a factual recall question related to the administrative structure of a major public health program in India (ICDS).
Recall the hierarchy of the ICDS scheme. The Anganwadi worker is the grassroots functionary.
The immediate supervisor for a cluster of Anganwadi workers is the Mukhya Sevika (or Anganwadi Supervisor).
Evaluate the other options. A 'Male health worker' is part of a different system (Health Department), so they can be eliminated.
Based on this, select the option that correctly identifies the supervisor within the ICDS structure.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Administrative hierarchy and supervision within the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.
Stem keywords: Anganwadi worker, supervised by
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Principles and Practice of NURSING Management Leadership for BSc Nursing 3rd Edi Jogindra Vati — Subpart A (pp 26-339 of 1017) p. 260-262

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart B (pp 276-535 of 550) p. 144-146