ASHA workers threaten to intensify stir over demands

Payal, May 11

Office-bearers and activists of the ASHA Workers’ and Facilitator Union have threatened to intensify their stir if their long-pending demands are not accepted and implemented without further delay.

When none of the officials from Primary Health Centre, Payal, turned up to receive their memorandum, the activists hung the memorandum on the branches of a tree at the venue of the protest.

Terming the protest illegal, Payal SMO Harpreet Singh Sekhon claimed that according to the guidelines of the government, healthcare workers and frontline workers could not shirk away from their duty to fight against the spread of coronavirus.

Office-bearers of the outfit, led by state president Kirandeep Kaur Panjola, alleged that the government had failed to redress the long-pending problems of frontline workers.

“We have been working continuously and spreading awareness about the causes of the spread of Covid-19, and sampling for corona testing, vaccination and handling positive patients. The administration has failed to provide us protective materials, including sanitisers and masks,” said Panjola.

Payment of Rs4,000 honorarium for ASHA workers on the pattern of Haryana government, Rs500 per tour for facilitators, Rs15,000 salary, a smartphone and two uniforms were cited among major demands of the protestors.

Payal unit president Harpreet Kaur Bhathal accuded the administration of not extending help to a corona positive worker of Araichan village, three members of whose family had already succumbed to the virus. —OC