ASHA workers seek regular jobs, minimum salary

Tribune News Service

Karnal, August 20

Hundreds of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) staged a state-level ‘Adhikar rally’ at Sector 12 here today, demanding regular jobs and minimum salary.

They took out a procession to gherao Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s camp office on the Mall Road. The police, however, stopped them near Mahatma Gandhi Chowk. They tried to cross the barricades in vain.

On SDM Rajiv Mehta’s assurance for a meeting with Khattar on August 31 in Chandigarh, ASHA workers called off their agitation. They threatened a statewide protest on September 2 if their demands were not met.

Parvesh Rani, state president, ASHA Workers’ Union, said the state government had abolished facilities they got from the previous government after a long struggle.

“ASHA workers should be provided with regular jobs as village-level government employees and, till regular jobs are provided, the government should fix the minimum salary at Rs15,000 per month,” she said.

Rani alleged the government was not serious about the health infrastructure. Anita Rani, cashier of the union, said the government should upgrade the equipment of ASHA workers and fill posts of doctor.