The ASHAs under the banner of the Nikhila Odisha ASHA Karmi Sangha took out a rally from the Master Canteen to the Assembly and held a demonstration and meeting there on Monday protesting the apathy of the State Government and pressing for a hike in their pay and other facilities.
The agitators alleged that though the ASHAs and helpers are playing a pioneering role in the implementation of the Janani Surakshya Yojana (JSY), they are not properly paid and deprived of minimum facilities.
They demanded status of Government employees, hike in pay, implementation of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing committee like reservation for promotion to ANM, quota in nursing training, health insurance, bus pass, besides rest shed in all hospitals, 8-hour work on rotation basis in the hospitals, dress code, bicycle, mobile phone, appointment on basis of each 1,000 population rather than on basis of Anganwadi Kendras and filling up of all vacant gynaecologist posts.
A delegation met Health Minister Pratap Jena and submitted him a memorandum. AITUC general secretary Souribandhu Kar, Bijaya Jena, Namita Sahu, Matilata Kulu, Sashirekha Mallick, Debasis Ghosh, Sabita Mohanty, Ramani Routray, Sampraja Bada and Sura Jena were present.