At least 70,000 ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers across Maharashtra are on an indefinite strike from Tuesday, June 15, seeking a wage hike, better safety measures for COVID-19 surveys among other long-pending demands.
The workers are protesting against the low honorariums offered to these frontline health workers despite taking additional responsibilities during the pandemic.
These female frontline workers say that unless their demands are met they will continue to boycott their duties.
They get paid INR 1,650 per month. Ideally, they are supposed to work for five hours a day, but that shoots up to 07-08 hours because of the coronavirus crisis.
Last year they were told that their salary will be increased to INR 4000/month but that hasn't happened so far.
During the first Covid wave, these Asha Workers received an additional INR 300/day (other than the payment) for six months. But in the second wave, they are not even getting that bonus.
The ASHAs are the backbone of the rural healthcare system and an important section of Frontline workers in the war against coronavirus. Since a year, have been engaged in door-to-door surveys to look for symptomatic cases, contact tracing and arrange for treatment of patients.
ASHAs have not only refused to report for COVID-related work but also decided to stop working on 72 other health programmes under the public health department till their demands are fulfilled.
One of their major demands is INR 500 per day remuneration for working eight hours a day and for additional COVID-related work. Currently, most of them hardly earn INR 5,000 per month.
The state government said it is willing to negotiate the terms put forth by the female-dominated workforce.
ASHAs have also demanded more safety measures — personal protective equipment if they have to come in close contact with patients, masks, sanitisers, and a bed reservation in the hospital for them and their family members if they contract COVID-19.
With the second wave largely impacting rural areas, ASHAs faced a dearth in bed availability for treatment. Their workload also increased with cases spiking in villages.
Maharashtra, so far, has recorded deaths of at least 17 ASHAs due to the pandemic.
Also Read: To speed up COVID-19 test in villages, provide training to Asha healthcare workers: Ajit Pawar
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