ASHA members demand permanent job

ASHA members demand permanent job

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, June 8:  Members of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in association with CITU organised a protest before the District Health Office here on Tuesday, demanding permanent status to their jobs and social security.

Forwarding a memorandum to DHO Ramachandra Bairy, District Co-ordinator of the protest Dasu Bhandary said that members of ASHA are trained by the government to take care of expectant mothers as well as the mother and the child in rural areas under National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) programme. Though, they render selfless service, their service is not considered with due respect. They are paid very less honourarium and are not provided with better facilities when they approach the rural hospitals with patients, he alleged.

They demanded that the NRHM programme should be made permanent besides giving job security to the members of ASHA. They should be offered honourarium and should be paid monthly salary of Rs 1,000, with travel allowances. These workers should be given protection and the violence against them in the rural areas should be stopped. They should be afforded with a cell phone and the pending salary to each individual should be immediately released, the memorandum read.

CITU District President Vishwanath Rai, Dogu Suvarna, ASHA Association District Vice President Sangeetha Shetty, Secretary Nalini Udyavara, Taluk President Rekha Shetty, Co-coordinator Ramesh Mendon and others were present on the occasion.