ASHA workers during a protest in Bengaluru
Credit: PTI File Photo
Andhra Pradesh has become the first and only state in the country to pay gratuity to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to ensure gratuity payments to ASHA workers, who serve as a vital link between people and the healthcare system.
“This amounts to providing a sizable retirement benefit of Rs 1.50 lakh to each ASHA (worker) who puts in 30 years of service,” said an official press release on Saturday, adding that 42,752 workers will benefit from the CM’s decisions.
Highest salary for ASHA workers
Andhra Pradesh gives the highest salary for ASHA workers in the country, with monthly payment of Rs 10,000. According to a report in ET, this is significantly higher than other states like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala, Telangana & West Bengal.
Those delivering similar services are being paid Rs 750 in Uttar Pradesh, Rs 2,000 in Himachal Pradesh, Rs 2,700 in Rajasthan, Rs 3,000 each in West Bengal and Delhi, Rs 4,000 each in Haryana and Karnataka, Rs 5,000 in Kerala, Rs 6,000 in Sikkim and Rs 7,500 in Telangana.
Paid maternity leave for 180 days
The government has also announced paid maternity leave for 180 days for the first two deliveries. This means ASHA workers availing maternity leave will be paid six months’ salary of Rs 60,000. The measures will benefit 42,752 ASHA workers across the state.
Increase in the retirement age
The Andhra Pradesh government also raised the superannuation age of ASHA workers from 60 to 62 and announced that post-retirement benefits for the ASHA workers. They will receive priority in auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) recruitment and have access to various social security schemes. These measures aim to support Asha workers even after their retirement.
(With inputs from PTI)