Asha Workers Highlight Risks, Hold Protest Seeking Fair Pay
Hyderabad: The Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers laid siege to the office of the commissioner of health on Tuesday, demanding fixed wages and employment. They warned that they would go on an indefinite strike in case the state government failed to address their issues in the ongoing Winter Session of the Assembly and fulfill their demands by the Budget Session in February.
The ASHA workers affiliated to the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) were demanding fixed wages of Rs 18,000 per month, among others. They submitted a representation to health commissioner R.V. Karnan, highlighting the 19 demands which included issues of fixed timings, target-based incentives, Rs 50 lakh insurance, retirement settlement of Rs 2 lakh, ESI, and Rs 50,000 for last rites in the event of their death on duty.
“We are forced to work for around 12 hours every day, going door-to-door for leprosy and pregnant ladies surveys. The work begins at 5 am and ends at 5 pm. Additionally, in case of deliveries, the workers have to be with the ladies at all times, ensuring they reach the hospital on time and post-delivery care,” Meena, Hyderabad secretary, ASHA workers Union said.
“Despite making significant contributions to the health of the population, ASHA workers are paid a pittance of Rs 9,900. This too is based on the targets they fulfill,” she said.
Each worker connects a population of about 2,000 to 7,000 with the primary healthcare available in the area. They are required to collect data on various subjects like patients with tuberculosis, leprosy, dengue, malaria, chikungunya and viral fevers. They are significantly associated with pre-natal and ante-natal care services.
“We carry TB sputum in boxes with our bare hands. Most of the time we are concerned with fulfilling targets of finding pregnant mothers in the area and getting them to hospitals for check-ups. This has caused us multiple mental and physical health issues,” said a worker from Musheerabad.
“There are about 30,000 ASHA workers in Hyderabad. The government owes at least Rs 3,150 to each ASHA worker for leprosy surveys for the past three years. The kind of questions workers are supposed to ask as part of surveys raises privacy concerns and they have to face people’s ire headfirst,” said Meena.
Having discussed these issues with Commissioner Karnan, the workers were assured by joint director T. Balaji that the issue of salaries will be raised with the government. On the pending wages for the survey of leprosy and pulse polio, he said that 25 per cent had been paid, and the rest will be paid soon.
Balaji said they would be allowed to avail holidays on Sundays and festivals and that they need not conduct any more surveys if their wages weren't paid immediately. He announced that workers will not have to carry TB sputum boxes anymore and that there won't be any fixed targets for pregnant cases.
Union leader Jayalakshmi warned of more protests beginning December 17, which include bus yatras, padayatras, relay hunger strikes in district headquarters and protests in front of the houses of MLAs, to exert pressure on the state government to fulfil their demands.
