ASHA workers want retirement age raised

Garhshankar, August 22

ASHA Workers and Facilitators Union CITU (Hoshiarpur) under the leadership of its president Joginder Kaur, vice-president Balwinder Kaur, CITU state vice-president Mahinder Kumar Badhoyan and Binderpal Kaur protested against the Central and state governments regarding their demands. The main demand was that 58-year-old workers who have been removed from their jobs should be reinstated. They demanded that the retirement age should be increased to 62 years and they should be given a gratuity of Rs 5 lakh on retirement. The salary of scheme workers in the department should be fixed and the minimum salary should be Rs 26,000. The salary should be fixed on the pattern of Kerala and Puducherry.

The charter of demands was handed over to Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Singh Rouri. It will be forwarded to Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang for handing it over to the Prime Minister. Deputy Speaker Rouri assured a solution to the problems.

CITU state vice-president Mahinder Kumar Badhoyan said that their demands should be implemented failing which a protest will be organised. Besides them, Surjit Kaur, Satya Devi, Manjit Kaur Sela, Rajwinder Kaur, Monica Rani, Raghubir Kaur, Manju Garhi Mansowal, Gyan Kaur, Surinder Kaur Posi, Rekha and Kuldeep addressed the gathering and demanded that the problems of ASHA workers be resolved soon.