ASHA workers stage protest in support of demands

ASHA workers raising slogans during a protest in Jammu on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
ASHA workers raising slogans during a protest in Jammu on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 14: A large number of ASHA workers drawn from various parts of Jammu today held a day-long protest in front of the office of Director Health Services Jammu in support of their demands including enhancement of monthly remuneration and regularization of their jobs.
The protest was organized under the banner of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Holding flags and placards in their hands, the protesting ASHA workers chanted slogans in support of their demands.
Addressing the protesting ASHA workers, general secretary, State Committee of CITU, Om Prakash said that that a number of ASHA workers have so far martyred in the fight against COVID-19 while saving thousands of lives but it is shameful for the nation that Government of India is not ready to recognize their selfless work during the pandemic and regularize them as permanent employees. He asked the ASHAs to continue their struggle for getting their demands fulfilled.
In her address, Anita Rajput, secretary of ASHA Workers Union said that their counterparts in other states like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are getting wages of more than Rs 10000 per month but in ASHAs in J&K are getting meager remuneration of Rs 2000 only. She said that they are being put on almost 24 hours duty without leave and demanded that ASHAs be given Rs 21000 per month minimum wages, besides social security benefits like pension, EPF, ESI and free medical treatment.
Sunita Bhagat, leader of ASHA Workers’ Union Jammu, said that they have already submitted a memorandum comprising the demands such as increase in remuneration, additional increase of Rs 1000 in wages every year, special allowance for COVID duties, Rs 50 lakh to dependents of those ASHAs who had died due to COVID pandemic (under insurance scheme announced by the Government for frontline workers), etc to Lt Governor as well as Mission Director NHM J&K.
Muzaffar Wani (vice-president CITU), Jia Lal Parihar and Jagdish Sharma (CITU secretaries), Nishat Kazi (CITU leader), Gita Devi (treasurer, ASHA Workers’ Union) and many others spoke on the occasion.