Govt to provide Rs 2,000 as addl incentives to ASHA workers

SHILLONG, JUN 23:  The state government has decided to provide Rs 2,000 as additional incentive to over 6,000 ASHA workers in the state.

This was announced by the Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek after chairing a meeting held between the department and a delegation of the Meghalaya ASHA Workers Union (MAWU) on Wednesday.

The MAWU had called for an indefinite strike since June 19, against the non-payment of their incentives besides demanding to increase their honorarium from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 per month.

Addressing media persons, Hek informed that the meeting was a fruitful one and that the ASHA workers have also agreed to call off their indefinite strike following decisions announced by the government.

He said the state government has decided to provide an additional incentive of Rs 2,000 to all ASHA workers in the state adding this will be implemented with effect from April this year and will not be based on their performances.

At present, the ASHA workers are getting Rs 1,000 as incentive from the National Health Mission (NHM).

Asked, the minister said the financial implication for implementing this decision would come to around Rs 17 crore annually.

He further informed that the government will also provide Rs 1,000 as incentive for COVID-19 duty to all ASHA workers.

Meanwhile, Hek also announced that the state government would release all pending dues from 2011 till March 2018 amounting to Rs 22 crore in the month of July this year.

He however said the government cannot give any assurance for now with regards to the pending dues for the year 2019-2020.

By Our Reporter