A large number of ASHAs from different parts of Dharwad district staged a protest demonstration demanding fulfilment of some of their long-pending demands here on Wednesday.
The protest was held under the aegis of the Karnataka Rajya Samyuka ASHA Karyakarteyara Sangha affiliated to the All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC).
The protesters staged a dharna and later submitted a memorandum at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
The memorandum has urged the State government to initiate steps for fixing minimum honorarium of ₹ 12,000 and releasing incentive amount to ASHAs.
ASHAs aired grievances due to the delay in payment of incentives and salaries. They said that ASHAs appointed under the National Health Mission and the State’s health campaign are working sincerely in villages as a result of which there has been a sharp decline in Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate.
However, they are not getting remuneration they deserved for their work regularly.
The introduction of ASHAs Soft Model for payment of salaries and incentives has caused more inconvenience than benefits as there are difficulties in uploading the works turned out by each worker. Instead of getting a salary of ₹ 8,000 per month, the workers are getting ₹ 800-₹ 2,500 per month due to faulty uploading of information under ASHAs Soft Scheme, they said.
The workers demanded a consolidated payment of ₹ 12,000 per month, including the incentive, and monthly pension to those who retired and maternity leave.