Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 27: Demanding regularisation of their services, minimum wages and medical coverage under Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY), scores of ASHA workers today took to the streets and held a protest demonstration in Srinagar.
An official spokesperson for Asha Workers Union Kashmir said its activists held a protest demonstration here to highlight their demands. Holding placards and banners, the protestors raising slogans in support of their demands, including their recognition as employee, minimum wages, changing room, coverage under AABY, pre-paid mobile, uniforms and better service conditions.
Highlighting the grievances of ASHA workers, the spokesperson said the activists work for at least seven to eight hours daily but are considered as voluntary health activists and are not paid even minimum wages.
Asserting that ASHA workers play a critical role in the health sectors, the protestors said the activists should be regularised as health workers and paid the statutory minimum wages in the State. “Continuous struggles of ASHA and effective leadership and support of the Central Trade Unions have resulted in the recommendations of the 45th Indian Labour Conference that ASHA must be recognised as employees, be given minimum wages and pension. But successive Governments have keept mum on this crucial question,” they said.
Meanwhile, the protestors also demanded implementation of Government of India’s order dated January 3, 2014 for revision of incentive from Rs 10,000 to Rs 16,000 per year, implementation of minimum wages, payments on account of Janani Suraksha Yojana, coverage under AABY, cash payment to beneficiaries, postnatal checkups, Immunisation, Vaccine carrier, mobile charges, family planning.
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