ASHA workers want services regularised

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 15

A large number of ASHA workers carried out a protest march in support of their demands, here on Friday. Under the banner of the ASHA Workers and Facilitator Union, the activists took out the protest from the Civil Surgeon’s Office to Fountain Chowk.

The protesting workers had planned to carry out the march up to the residence of Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, but were stopped near Fountain Chowk by the police.

The workers then staged a sit-in at Fountain Chowk. During the protest, a scuffle also broke out between protesters and women police personnel.

Holding banners, the protesters raised slogans in support of their demands, including regularisation of their services, minimum wages and medical coverage.

Ranjit Kaur, general secretary, ASHA Workers and Facilitator Union, said, “The ASHA workers work for at least seven to eight hours daily but are considered as voluntary health activists and are not paid even minimum wages.”

Asserting that the ASHA workers played a critical role in the health sector, the protesters said the activists should be regularised as health workers and paid the statutory minimum wages in the state.

Later, the workers called off their protest after they handed over a memorandum to the tehsildar who assured them of a meeting with Health Minister Brahm Mohindra.