Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) working in rural pockets of the State went on an indefinite strike from Monday demanding the settlement of all components of payments due from the State and Union governments.
The ASHA workers affiliated to the Karnataka Rajya Samyukta Asha Karyakariyara Sangha staged a protest demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi on Monday before beginning their indefinite strike. Their main demands, besides regular payment of honorarium and incentives every month, included the clearing of the dues of incentives for the past two years. They also demanded the State to follow the guidelines of Union government and provide four saris every year and mobile phones with SIM card to the ASHA workers. They demanded the creation of a corpus fund of Rs. 5 crore for taking up welfare programmes.
Raichur
Over 600 ASHA workers began their indefinite agitation at the Tipu Sultan garden near the office of the Deputy Commissioner on Monday demanding honorary remuneration for the last one-and-a-half years and matching incentives. They took out a rally from Ambedkar Circle to the agitation spot raising slogans against the government for its negligence in releasing the funds. Speaking during the agitation, N.S. Veeresh, leader of ASHAs, said the health workers would continue to participate in the strike till the government comes up with a concrete solution to their demands.
“Along with the State-level demands, we have some demands specific to Raichur district. We will continue to agitate till our demands are addressed. The government will be responsible for all inconveniences caused by the agitation,” he said.
Extending his support, T.S. Sunith Kumar, leader of Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), condemned the government for its “reluctance” in addressing the “genuine and reasonable” demands of ASHAs who were playing a pivotal role in improving people’s health in rural areas.
“It is indisputable that within a period of five years after ASHAs commenced their work, the institutional deliveries are on a significant rise. Similarly, the infant and maternal mortality rate has reduced greatly. But the government is not at all concerned in addressing the genuine issues of ASHAs,” he said. The governments that display over-enthusiasm in offering huge tax exemptions to big corporate houses and great concessions to affluent class want ASHAs to render their services free of cost, he rued. He called upon the toiling masses for a united resistance against injustice and exploitation.
Chetana Banare, leader of All India Mahila Samskritik Sanghatan, also extended her organisation’s support to the agitating ASHAs.A memorandum with a list of 28 demands was submitted to the office of Deputy Commissioner. A similar launch of the strike was done in Vijayapura too.
