ASHA workers seek fixed pay

Patiala, August 13

Demanding a fixed pay, ASHA workers today held a protest at the Civil Surgeon office. A large number of ASHA workers protested under the banner of the Asha Worker and Facilitator Union of Punjab. The protesters raised slogans against the state government for not fulfilling their long-pending demands.

Ranjit Kaur, chairperson of the Union said they had been protesting for the past many years for fulfillment of their demands. The government was not listening to our grievances, she said. “ASHA workers work for at least seven to eight hours daily, but are considered as voluntary health activists and not paid minimum wages. Our pay should be fixed on a pattern adopted by Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, among others,” she said.

They said the government should provide them a fixed monthly salary of Rs 10,000. They submitted a memorandum to Civil Surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra. — TNS