ASHA workers protest, demand pay hike

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 21

ASHA workers and Facilitators’ Union on Saturday staged a protest outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner and demanded that their salaries be increased.

The protesters alleged that they were working on meagre incentives. Association president Paramjit Kaur Mann said: “Our demand is that workers should be brought under the ambit of minimum wage rules.” She said they had demanded a minimum of Rs9,200 per month for ASHA workers and Rs18,000 per month for ASHA facilitators.

They alleged that Jivan Jyoti Insurance Scheme was useless to them. The union members demanded that all workers should be provided a medical insurance and a travel allowance as a large part of their earnings was spent on travelling.

Later, the protesters marched towards the residence of the Medical Education and Research Minister, Om Parkash Soni, and submitted a memorandum regarding their demands.