ASHA workers promoting institutional deliveries in Doda
Accredited social health activists (ASHA), who are playing an essential role in promoting institutional deliveries in the Bhalesa region of Doda district, will receive an increment of Rs 1,000 as incentive from March.
District ASHA coordinator, Doda, said that a meeting-cum-workshop was organised for the ASHA workers.
“The government has increased the incentive of ASHA workers under comprehensive primary healthcare incentive. We listened to their issues. Earlier, they used to get an assured incentive of Rs 2,000 and other incentives. There are 12 indicators. In the seven indicators, they have got an increment of Rs 700 each. NIS-certified ASHA workers received their certificates today. In 2020, 120 ASHA workers cleared the NIS exams. They received Rs 5,000,” he said.
An ASHA worker said, “Earlier, delivery of babies used to happen at home in villages. Now, all the deliveries take place in hospitals. Now, all the children are vaccinated. Pregnant women are vaccinated within three months to avoid any disease. Earlier, we used to get Rs 2,200 as incentive and now, we will get Rs 3,000. We want to appeal to the government that we should get regular salary.”
Another ASHA worker said that when she started working as an ASHA worker, vaccinations were not taking place regularly. “We raised awareness among the people. Now, all the deliveries are taking place in hospital. From March, the assured incentive would be Rs 3,000,” she said.
On March 4, Union Health Minister JP Nadda chaired the ninth meeting of the Mission Steering Group (MSG) of National Health Mission (NHM) at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.
Nadda commended the role of ASHA workers, calling them “grassroots foot soldiers” in the healthcare system and stressed the need for their further empowerment and welfare through revised incentives for routine activities and providing enhanced honorarium.
