ASHAs demand hike in incentives

Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, July 10

In a setback to the Intensified Control Diarrhoea Fortnight (IDCF) campaign, accredited social health activists (ASHAs) across Dera Bassi subdivision have withdrawn support to it, protesting state government’s “indifference” towards their demands.

As many as 100 workers withdrew support to the programme launched by the state government. They condemned the government for giving inadequate incentives to them under various schemes. They sought hike in the incentives.

Kirandeep Kaur, state president of the their union, said the Health Department was paying them only Re 1 per ORS packet under the IDCF, which was very less. They demanded that the department should pay them Rs 10 per ORS packet. They also submitted a memorandum to the Senior medical Officer (SMO), Dera Bassi, demanding fulfillment of their demands.

“We do not want children to suffer. But we have decided not to support the campaign,’ said Kirandeep Kaur.

The Intensified Control Diarrhoea Fortnight is being organised to contain child deaths due to diarrhoea. The objective is to ensure high coverage of ORS and zinc use rate in children.

Sangeeta Jain, SMO, Dera Bassi, said she had forwarded the memorandum submitted to her to the higher authorities. She said the department would ensure that the programme was not affected in any way.