ASHAs plan to intensify protests, take up even online campaign

Mysuru: All 42,000 ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists), including 1,700 in Mysuru, who took a three-day overnight protest last week, have planned to intensify protests in the coming days to urge the state government to fulfil their promises.

They even plan to launch online signature campaigns on social media platforms and send online petitions to the Prime Minister and President. They plan to urge them to fulfill their long-term demand to recognise ASHAs as workers and provide minimum wages, PF, ESI and other benefits

D Nagalakshmi, general secretary, Karnataka Rajya Samyuktha ASHA Karyakarthara Sangha, said that it was in January, after they protested, that the State government assured them of a fixed honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month and they were supposed to get it from April. The govt even increased the honorarium for Anganwadi and midday meal staff by Rs 1,000 from April as promised in the State budget, but not ASHAs'.

She said, "ASHAs are the last leg, to facilitate the benefits of healthcare schemes and programmes to the doorsteps of the people. WHO has conferred them the 'Global Health leaders' award. They are recognised as front line warriors and used for elections, exams, surveys and so on. Yet, their services are yet to be justified with adequate remuneration."

Nagalakshmi explained, "At present, from the Central Government, ASHAs are getting Rs 5000 honorarium. Centre has increased Non MCTS (Maternal and Child Tracking System) incentive from Rs 2000 to Rs 3500. Earlier Centre gave team based incentive of Rs 1000 to about 27000 ASHAs at rural health sub centres, now State Government is giving Rs 1000 team based incentive to remaining 15000 ASHAs at PHC head quarters and urban centres."

"They get Rs 500 to Rs 3000 performance based incentive from the Central Government after entering data of Maternal and Child Health cases in ASHA soft app. Many ASHAs are still unable to upload the data on the ASHA Soft app, due to lack of smartphones and internet facility. Hence, many are still losing incentives. Hence, the State government had promised to compensate it by getting a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 10,000, including incentives and honorarium," Nagalakshmi added.

She said, "State Government is yet to give Rs 280 per month as promised for usage of smartphones to upload data on the app. They have fixed 60 years as retirement age and plan to give Rs 50,000 golden hand shake. But, they should increase it to Rs 3 lakh, on the lines of West Bengal to shape their livelihood."

"There are proposals to almost double the coverage of the population from 1,000 per ASHAs. Hence many are anxious about losing jobs. Besides, it would be a burden to ASHAs as the government doesn't provide any travel allowance. It is planning to remove ASHA facilitators, appointed for every 20 ASHAs, which should not be done," Nagalakshmi said.

Susheela Sannappa, ASHA at Golur under DB Kuppe PHC inside Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, in HD Kote taluk of Mysuru district, said, "The posts of one staff nurse, three PHCOs (Public Health Care Officers), one lab assistant and one pharmacist are still vacant at DB Kuppe PHC. We find it difficult to upload the data on the ASHA Soft app on our mobile phone, due to network and other issues. Since there is no permanent staff nurse to upload our data on the app on the computer, two PHCOs from other PHC visit our PHC once a week to upload our data. Yet, we lose some incentives. Now the number of ASHAs has been increased from four to seven in the past one year for 14 tribal hamlets. If they increase the population coverage, some will lose jobs and our burden will increase and it would be difficult as we lack transport facilities".

Deepanjali, an ASHA said, "I am a single mother. If I am retired at 60, and if I stop getting monthly income it would be difficult. They should give a fair golden hand shake amount, so that I can invest it in some business and lead a peaceful livelihood."