Ludhiana: More than 40,000 accredited social health activists(ASHA), from across the state, will now receive uniforms, the colour of which will be determined during the first week of August by the health authorities. The decision was taken at the state level convention for ASHA that was attended by Health Minister Satpal Gosain, at Punjabi Bhawan, on Friday
The health department has also decided to increase the allowance of the workers. ASHA posted in villages across the state will now receive Rs 200 a month as meeting allowance, from the earlier Rs 100. They will also get transport allowance. The workers perform a variety of tasks like conducting health surveys, for which they were not paid. Now, they will receive Rs 2 per house for collection of data and will be provided free health services as well as life insurance.
The workers, however, accused doctors of misbehaving with them and even addressing them as ‘illiterates’. Rama Kumari, an ASHA union leader from Ludhiana said: “ We bring patients from villages and to our surprise the doctors are hardly available in the dispensaries at times. A number of times, the doctors misbehave with us in front of the patients. In fact we are helping them out by bringing the patients to their door step”.
As reported in: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/state-health-workers-to-get-uniforms-and-pay-upgrade/821442/
The health department has also decided to increase the allowance of the workers. ASHA posted in villages across the state will now receive Rs 200 a month as meeting allowance, from the earlier Rs 100. They will also get transport allowance. The workers perform a variety of tasks like conducting health surveys, for which they were not paid. Now, they will receive Rs 2 per house for collection of data and will be provided free health services as well as life insurance.
As reported in: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/state-health-workers-to-get-uniforms-and-pay-upgrade/821442/