Bengaluru: Asha workers from across the State gathered in large numbers at Freedom Park on Thursday to kick start an indefinite day and night protest as they are not happy with the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting with regard to delay in salaries.
They have not got payment because of delay in data entry with respect to the work done by them. More than 10,000 Asha workers marched from Bangalore City Railway Station to Freedom Park.
On Tuesday Health Minister Ramesh Kumar had held a meeting with the Asha Association representatives to discussing about incentives.
The workers gathered demanding a fixed monthly honorarium and also the abolition of ASHA Soft, the Centre’s online payment system, as due to lack of data entry operators it has failed to update the work done by Asha workers, thereby delaying their salaries.
Considering their demands, the State Government issued a Government Order sanctioning a fixed honorarium of Rs 5,000 be disbursed with effect from Thursday to the Asha workers with some conditions.
The order also called for appointment of a computer assistant in all Taluk level health offices.
However, the workers are unhappy with fixed honorarium. "Even if we perform the mandatory services as mentioned in the Government Order, our performance based incentives will be more than the fixed honorarium. Why should we even agree to this," said D. Nagalakshmi, Secretary of Karnataka State Samyukta Aasha Workers’ Association.
