Prema Aswale, an Anganwadi worker (AWW) in her mid-30s from Wada taluka in Maharashtra's Palghar district, recently had to pawn her gold chain to fund the expenses of providing eggs to over 20 children and meals to around 10 pregnant women and lactating mothers in her village. The meals are to be provided under the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Aahar Yojana, but delayed reimbursements under the scheme mean many workers like her have had to shell out money from their own pockets for the past six months.