The State convention of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in Bangalore on August 26 will highlight their demands for more facilities and monthly honorarium.
D. Nagalakshmi, secretary, Karnataka Rajya Samyukta ASHA Karyakarteyara Sangha, told presspersons here on Monday that nearly 33,000 women were working as ASHAs in the State under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). Most of them were widows, divorcees and housewives from weaker sections of society. While these women hold surveys, awareness campaigns and other works assigned by the Health Department, their honorarium was not worth their toil. Ms. Nagalakshmi said the ASHA workers were being given assignments even unrelated to the department.
“While the employees of the Health Department get benefits and high remuneration, ASHA workers spend their money for transportation and phone services and do not get any remuneration,” she said. The convention would be held at the Puttanna Chetty Town Hall at 11 a.m.
