ASHAs decide to stage indefinite strike over govt’s failure to hike honorarium

The Meghalaya Accredited Social Health Activist Workers’ Union (MASHAWU) on Tuesday decided to intensify its agitation by resorting to an indefinite strike as a mark of protest against the state government’s apathy attitude towards their demand for enhancement of honorarium.

The decision also came a day after the State government had expressed its inability to give any assurance to the agitating ASHAs, who were on a ‘resting at home agitation’, on the ground that they are already provided with adequate remunerations. This was taken after a review meeting chaired by chief minister Conrad K Sangma with the health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and officials of the department.

Addressing the media, president of the Union Marajune Myrsing said, “We have decided to go for an indefinite strike till our demand is achieved.”

“We are demanding the State government to increase the honorarium to Rs 5,000 from Rs 2,000,” she said.

According to her, the ASHAs are not getting any fix honorarium from National Health Mission (NHM) as they are only incentives.

Adviser to the Union, Sonny Kharjana said that the Union is ready to discuss with the government based on invitation. This is because if ASHAs refuse to work, it will no doubt affect the health services to the people including issuing of birth and death certificates.

“In fact, we have met the health minister with a plea to increase the honorarium from 2000 to 5000 on the grounds that once appointed as ASHAs, they cannot take another job (to sustain their families),” she said.

Rubbishing the health minister’s claim that the ASHAs are getting adequate incentives, Kharjana said, “If there are 200 ASHAs only one or two will get Rs 7,000 or Rs 8,000 because all will depend on the population. The ASHA will not get incentive if she is successful in motivating family planning. Further, an incentive of only Rs 100 is being given for 1,000 houses during deworming day.”

She also said that the minister cannot compare an ASHA with an elected MLA who is getting a fixed salary from the government. “Therefore, the strike will continue till the government resolves this issue,” Kharjana added.