Nearly 3,000 ASHA workers in Gir Somnath, Porbandar and Junagadh districts are on strike for about 10 days now. They have sought minimum wages and other entitlements from the government and claim that the wage hike in 2017 was an eyewash. They say that they will continue to protest until their demands are met.
Vandana Sutariya, one of the prominent ASHA workers fighting for their rights, told DNA that ASHA workers were given 50 per cent hike when they had conducted protests in 2017, but other benefits were withdrawn so there was no net benefit. "We are not getting Rs 3,000 per month. If we get minimum wages, we can get about Rs 300 per day. On the other day, we have round the clock duty. Whenever pregnant women are facing problems or if there's a case of delivery, it is the ASHA workers, who are first approached," said Sutariya.
"It is ironic that we will be celebrating International Women's Day on Friday and talking of empowerment but the struggle for rights of these women is getting unnoticed. The government is simply not paying attention to them," said Pravin Ram, president of Jan Adhikar Manch, which is leading the protests in the state.
When contacted Sourabh Pardhi, collector or Junagadh district said that ASHA workers have indeed submitted a memorandum of their demands. "They are demanding that they are covered under minimum wages. However, this is a policy decision. We will forward their demands to the department, which will take a call on it," said Pardhi.
Sutariya said that many of the women have been in service for about 10 years now but still they are deprived of their entitlements. It is about 10 days that they have not been in the field and say that they will also boycott polio vaccination, scheduled on Sunday, March 10. "We are told to attend the various function, but we have to make provision of travel expenses from our own expenses. We demand that we are provided Travelling Allowance and Daily Allowance," she said. Moreover, they are paid only if they cater to BPL women, while in other cases, they are not paid.
MAIN DEMANDS
- Many have been in service for about 10 years now
- They should be paid for all pregnant women inspected by them
- They should be paid for all deliveries they attend
- Given TA, DA for work where travelling is required
