Thousands of ASHA Workers under the banner of Sanjukta Morcha of ASHA Karmi Union affiliated to All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Monday staged demonstration at PMG Square demanding increased allowance and social security.
The union alleged though in Odisha ASHA Workers serve in difficult situations reaching out to villages in inaccessible areas and hilly tracks to provide health services for safe motherhood, they are being deprived of minimum facilities.
While the World Health Organisation (WHO) termed ASHA Workers in India as Global Health Leaders for their selfless services during the Covid-19 pandemic, both the State and Central Governments are ignoring their just demands, said union general secretary Namita Sahu.
The organisation demanded a minimum of Rs 21,000 allowance per month, all perks, retirement age of 65 years, retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh, reservation in Nursing College seats for training, allowance for private hospital deliveries, besides implementation of Parliamentary Committee recommendations for promoting ASHA Workers of ten years experience to the post of ANM.