JORHAT: Hundreds of ASHA workers of the district on Friday staged a protest in front of the office complex of the Jorhat joint director of health here in support of their various demands.
Holding banners and placards the protesters staged the demonstration demanding monthly wages of Rs 15000, issue of appointment letters to them as are given to other employees engaged under National Health Mission (Assam), reducing their workload and paying the wages regularly each month instead of paying after several months.
Stating that the they were inducted primarily for three tasks in 2006 under the NRHM (National Rural Health Mission), which were helping to reduce infant and maternal mortality and to take care of anti and neonatal health of women and infants. However, after being able to bring down the mortality figures the state health department had been engaging them in over 70 tasks and they had to work round the clock.
They stressed the importance of a stable income to meet their livelihood requirements while carrying out their crucial duties.
The ASHA workers at present receive a remuneration of Rs 3000 per month.
Expressing angst over the government proposal to give female teachers scooties, they said that the government should first provide vehicles to them as they were engaged in bringing life into this world and had to travel an hour to the hospital even at of night or on a public holiday, if a woman delivered her baby.
Furthermore, the leaders representing the ASHA workers cautioned of potential actions, including a potential boycott of the voting process and the threat of extensive agitation in the subsequent phase if their appeals remain unaddressed by the government.
There are about 1200 ASHA workers in Jorhat district and 35,000 state-wide at present.
