Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 8: ASHA workers today took out a protest rally from Governor House to Indira Chowk (Jammu) in support of their demands which include implementation of Minimum Wages Act in Jammu & Kashmir.
A large number of ASHA workers drawn from various parts of Jammu today reached outside Governor House where they stage a brief protest to highlight their demands. Thereafter, the protesting ASHA workers take out a rally from Governor House to Indira Chowk. While holding flags, banners and placards, they were raising slogans in support of their demands.
Speaking on the occasion, one of the leaders of ASHA workers said that a number of ASHA workers were martyred in the fight against COVID-19 while saving thousands of lives. She said it is shameful that while the Government as well as J&K LG recognizes the selfless work of ASHA workers during the pandemic but not ready to give them even minimum wages.
“Our counterparts in other states like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are getting wages of more than Rs 10,000 per month but ASHAs in J&K are getting meager remuneration of Rs 2000 only,” she said and demanded that ASHAs be given minimum wages of Rs 26,000 per month, besides social security benefits like pension, EPF, ESI and free medical treatment.
Another leader of ASHAs said that a 3-day all-India convention of ASHA workers will be held on September 16, 17 and 18 in which all the issues of the ASHAs will be deliberated. She said that a convention of ASHAs was also held on September 5 in Delhi where it was unanimously decided to take out a campaign on issues of Scheme workers till March 27, 2023 and today’s protest is part of that campaign.
“Such protests and rallies will be taken out time to time till March 27, 2023 to create pressure on the Government to fulfill genuine demands of ASHAs,” she added.
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