PUNE: As many as 70,000 Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers and 3,000 supervisors across the State have pledged not to vote in the forthcoming State Assembly elections.
Around 4,000 workers, including ASHA workers and their supervisors from Pune district, held a ‘Jail Bharo Andalon’ at the Collectorate on Monday.
For the past several years, the workers have been demanding a hike in their honorarium or at least getting on a pay scale which will give them a fixed monthly amount. Tired of false promises and lack of effective provisions made to improve their situation, ASHA workers have decided not to vote for any government this time. ASHA workers have been on strike across the state since September 3. The protests are being held district-wise.
Meagre pay
“Since 10 years, we have been fighting for a proper salary. The supervisors have started with Rs 3,000 as honorarium and now, it has been raised in the past two years to Rs 8,725. It is like allowances that we receive for visiting villages and remote areas where ASHA workers are deputed. Each supervisor has to visit 20 villages. We don’t get any fixed salary,” said Vidya Kamle, a supervisor from Daund taluka.
ASHA workers receive honorarium based on the service they provide. For example, to assist a leprosy patient, they get Rs 200, family planning or operation patient Rs 150 or for juvenile spondyloarthritis, they will get Rs 600. Little is left our income when most of the money is spent on travelling itself,” added Kamble.
Face several challenges
From rushing a patient to the government hospital to ensuring that proper treatment is provided to him/her and filling all the required documents of the patient for availing the benefits from the State government, ASHA workers have to do it all. These workers have to overcome several difficulties.
“These workers were subjected to physical abuse at times. Especially, during the polio campaign when workers have to visit houses in remotest areas of the village to ensure no child was left out of the polio dose. Many times, they encounter with a drunk person at these houses who forcefully pull them in the house,” said Virjya Tambe, another supervisor from Daund taluka.
Health issues neglected
ASHA workers also highlighted that most of the female workers were anaemic. Criticising the glaring disparity, Tambe said, “The Central and State governments were emphasising on eradicating anaemia from the nation and ASHA workers were expected to participate in this campaign to raise awareness about timely check-ups. However, the government was neglecting its helpers as almost 90 per cent of these workers have been suffering from anaemia.”
