Asha workers seek higher wages, protest

Rohtak: Demanding a “respectable” salary hike and better work conditions, hundreds of accredited social health activists (Asha) on Wednesday reached the residence of former BJP minister Manish Grover in Rohtak. The police, however, prevented them from barging ahead. In another protest at Ambala Cantonment bus stand, Asha workers held a protest near the residence of Haryana home minister Anil Vij.

Asha workers have been protesting for the last 37 days demanding an increase in their pay and other emoluments. Currently, they get a monthly honorarium of Rs 4,000, which, along with some incentives, adds up to Rs 7,000-9,000. State president of Asha Surekha said they demand Rs 26,000 per month and regularisation of their services, along with other benefits such as pension, gratuity and PF.

Asha Union Rohtak president Anita said they had sought time to meet the government representatives but the authorities refused to meet them despite assurance to resolve their issues.

In Ambala, a minor incident took place between Asha workers and police when they were not allowed to proceed to Vij’s residence. Some workers were detained and taken away in buses and dropped in different directions to disperse them. The protester raised slogans against the state government and also banged utensils “to awaken the sleeping government”.

In Yamunanagar, Asha workers jammed the highway, demanding release of detainees. However, police pacified them after assuring that detained workers would be released.

Secretary of the Jhajjar Asha Union Kiran said the healthcare services at the grassroot level had been hit due to the absence of frontline health workers on ground.

“We have a record of 11 home deliveries in place of institutional deliveries, one delivery took place in an ambulance itself,” she claimed.