Bengaluru: Mayor Sampath Raj on Saturday said that promises made to Asha workers on their wages will be fulfilled during the coming state and BBMP budgets. Addressing an Asha workers’ convention here, he said, “The wage revision of Rs 6,000 for Asha workers will be placed before the chief minister during the budget session and the same will also be taken up at the BBMP budget meeting scheduled for Sunday.” He said that the same proposals will be put before the health ministry and health secretary.
Over 800 Asha workers from rural and urban parts of the city had gathered at the Rajkumar Glass House on Saturday to press their demands in the light of state budget and to finalise their action plan to ensure a solution to their salary-related problems.
Former Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar said, “The meagre Rs 3,500 per month given to them is not enough. The government should fulfil its promise of increasing the minimum monthly wage to Rs 6,000 by recognizing Asha workers as permanent government employees. Benefits like PF, ESI, travel allowance and others should be provided to them. Workers who have put in more than 10 years should be made permanent. It should also be recognised as the essential and emergency service.”
State Secretary, Karnataka State United Asha Workers Association, D. Nagalakshmi, said their previous protests have helped Asha workers get uniforms, mobile facilities, salary hike, and matching grants. “The efforts of our workers in reducing the infant mortality rate in the state should be recognised. We hope that our concerns will be addressed during the budget,” she said.
