ASHA Workers caution to launch series of intense agitation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 29 2023:
ASHA Workers have threatened to launch a series of intense agitation if the State Government does not hike their honorarium by January 2024 .
Newly appointed general secretary of All Manipur Accredited Health Activists (ASHA) Workers' Union Paonam Asharani made the statement by the sideline of the general body meeting of the Union held at Irawat Bhawan today.
Speaking to the media, Paonam Asharani stated that ASHA workers receive only Rs 3000 as honorarium pay.
Breaking down the pay, she shared that out of the Rs 3000, Rs 2000 is paid by the NRHM as incentive while the remaining Rs 1000 is paid by the State Government.
Regrettably, the State Government has not released the incentive since April 2022, she added.
Asserting that the honorarium pay given to ASHA Workers does not befit the amount of work they do, she informed that in 2022 Chief Minister N Biren Singh had assured to increase the honorarium pay but concrete steps are yet to be taken in this regard.
The Union general secretary also made an appeal to extend some form of support such as pensions to ASHA Workers who have retired after attaining the retirement age of 60 years.
During the general body meeting, the Union also passed a resolution to demand recognition as official employees of the State on top of the other demands listed above.
Moreover, the Union formed a new Committee and inducted 47 general council members, 17 executive members and 11 office bearers into the Committee today.
Th Purnimashi Devi was appointed as the president; Samina Begum, Sh Sorodhini Devi and Ch Ongbi Ibetombi Devi as vice presidents and Paonam Asharani Devi as general secretary.