Shillong, June 23: The group known as “Ka Sur u Paidbah ka Bri u Hynniew Trep” today has written to the Meghalaya Health Minister Mr. A L Hek urging the state government to responds to the demand of the ASHA Workers.
In the letter Mr. Rastingwell Thabah Chairman and Mr. Egenstar Kurkalang general secretary said that it was great concerns the the ASHA workers who are the Primary Health Workers at the grassroot level.
The ASHA works at the grassroots level, attending to the needs of pregnant women and children in the villages including additional duties as always instructed by the office or authority concerned for health and well being of the society.
At the same time it was seen despite of their existing burden are in their responsibility, but with the pandemic outbreak, the government assigned another risky job and duty to ASHA as a frontline warrior in fighting against this Pandemic, COVID-19 at the grassroots level.
The Chairman and secretary of the groups said that after analysing the ASHA responsibility, they feels that they need to be used and provided with proper safety measures, but unfortunately the government could not provide them adequate self Protection material as well as their payment.
Moreover ,as reported there is an irregularity in the system of releasing their dues and entitlements, the benefits and incentives, monthly honorarium of Rs. 2000/- as fixed by the Central Government has no regularity and uniformity, some of them receiving Rs. 800/-,Rs.1000/-,Rs.1200/-,Rs.1400/-, Rs.1600/-,and Rs.1800/- appear.
The differences amongst Districts, CHCs, PHCs etc. some, out of theirs benifits, incentives, entitlements the government couldn’t clear it since 2012 till date, which consequently caused them a great financial hardships and mental agony.
Therefore theirs health and safety is a priority and also they are human being needs essential and other necessities for children and family. Their rights and justice should not be neglected.
The group, in this respect we urged upon your honour, to consider this as a serious matter that the government needs to make necessary arrangement for Providing required materials for house visit, health survey.
The group KSUP7T urged the authority, to intervene into the matter for immediate release of their pending dues and entitlements, the benefits or incentives and regular payment of their monthly honorarium of Rs. 2000, Social Security Schemes along with the Special Packages provided to them in this Pandemic period.
