'Asha' volunteers demand regularisation of service

The demand was kept forth during the district- level convention of the volunteers held at Kaveri Kalakshethra on Tuesday.

Uniform and free mobile phones for the volunteers, boarding facilities in hospital for the volunteers in case of emergency along with food were some of the other demands. Leaders informed that as many as 22,000 ‘Asha’ volunteers are working in 22 districts in the state, specifically in rural areas to reduce infant mortality rate and death during delivery, TB, malaria, chikungunya and various other epidemics but these volunteers are not being given any job security by the government. They say that government is not even fixing minimum wage for the volunteers.

“We had held a rally in Bangalore demanding Group ‘D’status for Asha volunteers and fixing of minimum wage. Minister for Health had assured to take the matter with the CM and at the Centre but so far there has been no progress in this direction,” informed the leaders.
Earlier volunteers took out a procession from Gandhi Maidan to Kaveri Kalakshethra.
Asha Volunteers’ Association State President L Somshekar Yadagiri, AITUC State Joint Secretary K V Bhat and others were present.