Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: One day conference of ASHA Workers Union, Jammu was held at Forest Information Center Hall, Bikram Chowk, here today.
The Conference projected demands like increase in wages to Rs 7500 at the pattern of Kerala State, recognition of ASHAs as workers, implementation of recommendations of 45th Indian Labour Conference, coverage under social security schemes like ESI, EPF and pension, Aam Admi Bima Yojna etc.
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The conference was presided over by a presidium comprising of Anit Devi, Sunita Bhagat and Geeta Devi.
Sham Parsad Kesar, Sr. leader of CITU State Committee while delivering his inaugural speech said that All India Coordinate Committee of ASHA workers formed in February 2009 to address the problems of ASHA workers by organizing them.
He said, for the past many years, ASHAs have been struggling and agitating for regularization as health workers, for minimum wages and better working conditions, adding the ASHAs working in our state are suffering hard due to the negative attitude of the Health Department.
He said, the funds are lying unutilized but the ASHAs are not getting their dues, adding some states like Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Tripura, Delhi etc. have increased the wages of ASHA workers.
He said, keeping in view the nature of the work they do, they should be regularized as health workers and be paid the statutory minimum wages of the State.
Sunita Bhagat, General Secretary of ASHA Workers’ Union placed a detailed report of past activities and struggle for demands including recognition of ASHA as workers, implementing Govt. of India order dated January 3, 2014 for revision of incentive from 10000 to 16000 per year, implementation of minimum wages to Rs. 18000 per month, enforcement of recommendation of 45th India Labour Conference, besides other demands.
Others who spoke in the conference were Neena Sharma, Vimla Devi, Kanta Devi, Usha, Anuradha, Reeta, Raj Kumari, Surender Kour, Hardeep Kour, Neelam, Nirmal Devi, Naseema Begum, Raj Rani, Romesh chand, Jia lal Parihar and V K Vaid.
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