a day ago
Three-day round-the-clock protest by ASHA workers ends
With the government considering few of the demands put forth by ASHA workers in Karnataka, members of the AIUTUC-affiliated Karnataka State United ASHA Workers' Association withdrew their three-day round-the-clock protest on Thursday.
ASHA workers — the first point of contact for people, especially in rural areas — took to the streets in all district centres and protested by forming human chains on major roads and circles in conclusion of their three-day strike.
While the decision to increase the population limit to be covered by every ASHA and the threat to dismiss ASHA workers arbitrarily has been abandoned by the State Health Department, the government is yet to fulfill their demand of a fixed monthly honorarium of ₹10,000.
'We welcome the circular issued by the department that adheres to the old guidelines of one ASHA to work for a maximum of 1,000 population in rural areas and a maximum of 2,000 population in cities. The department has also clarified that the evaluation process was only done to increase the efficiency of ASHA work and there is no need to worry about being dismissed from work. The association calls on ASHA workers to be vigilant about the department's conduct accordingly,' said a statement.
Meanwhile, Sarvatrika Arogya Andolana Karnataka (SAA-K) has extended support to the protesting ASHA workers.
