NMC hikes Asha workers’ honorarium by Rs1,000

Nagpur: Seven months after engaging Asha workers in Covid-19 related works, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Friday hiked their monthly honorarium by Rs1,000. “Now, it will be Rs4,000 per month,” said Vijay Zalke, chairman of NMC standing committee which approved a proposal from health department in this regard.
Along with Asha workers, the committee also gave green signal to hike honorarium of around 402 health workers by Rs1,500 per month.
Zalke told TOI that 402 health workers and 594 Asha workers have been working as contact tracers, screening residents in every nook and corner of the city, assisting in conduct of rapid antigen and RT-PCR tests since the Covid-19 outbreak in the city in March. He admitted that these workers were grossly underpaid during the health crisis.
The panel’s chairman the hike in monthly honorarium will create additional financial burden of Rs11.97 lakh per month on the NMC. “We have given nod for a provision of Rs35.91 lakh for three months from October,” he said.
The panel also gave its nod to auction already scrapped three small fire tenders, three emergency fire tenders and three ambulances to the earlier bidders. “If the NMC invites fresh tender for auction of scrapped fire tenders and other material, the cost would further reduce due to depreciation,” said Zalke.
The panel also okayed medical officer Dr Sarita Kamdar’s medical leave for 89 days.