New Delhi: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) will be observing 25th June as All India Demands Day for ASHA Workers. The trade union has blamed the government for ill management of Covid-19 crisis and put a list of 14 demands before the central government.
"Health system has not only failed to take care of the health of the public but also failed terribly to even protect the health sector workers including the doctors. The lockdown was meant to take time to prepare the country’s health system to counter the pandemic. But what has happened in our country is the deaths and misery of the migrant workers, job loss for workers, the alarming increase in Covid cases and a total failure of the health system except for Kerala," said the statement released by CITU.
According to CITU, the worst sufferers of the pandemic are the ASHA workers, who are not even recognized as the health sector employees. Nearly 10 lakh ASHA workers, who are in the field, going door to door, are among the most exposed to the disease.
Deaths of ASHA workers are reported from various states on a daily basis. Hundreds of ASHA workers are infected by Covid 19 and still working contaminated areas and red zones, ASHA workers are sent for surveys and monitoring, without any safety gear.
In some of the states, as many as 15 ASHA workers have died on duty and in most cases they were not even tested for Covid-19. Apart from getting the deadly disease, they and their families are being stigmatized and attacked by local miscreants as ‘carriers of corona’. Many ASHA workers and even family members had to be hospitalized due to such attacks.
What are they getting in return, for risking their own lives to save others’ lives? Most of the workers are scheme workers or on contract, not even getting their salaries (‘honorarium’ as the government calls it) for months. ASHAs are losing their incentives because all the other health-related activities are stopped. For risking the lives of themselves and their family, doing the most crucial job, after much pressure from the unions, the Modi government has declared a pittance of Rs.1000 to the ASHAs for six months! This is not enough for even purchasing sanitisers and masks and it did not reach the workers yet.
The Modi government recently announced Rs.50 lakh insurance package for all those who are engaged in the fight against corona but according to the trade union, the policy does not cover the treatment of Corona or quarantine expenses. Also, the Anganwadi workers are not covered under the scheme. In most of the states, ASHA workers and 108 Ambulance staff and sanitation workers are also not covered under the scheme, while in some states like Haryana, the insurance sum for ASHA workers is reduced to only Rs 10 lakh.
In various states like Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Maharashtra the unions have been raising these issues and holding protests even during the restrictions imposed due to lockdown.
The demands of Action committee are as follows:
1. Regularise ASHA Workers and all NHM workers as permanent workers, pay minimum wages and ensure social security and pension as per recommendations of the 45th and 46th ILC
2. Safety gear for all frontline workers, especially those in the health sector; PPEs for those who are engaged in containment areas and red/containment zone
3. Frequent, random and free Covid-19 test of all frontline workers
4. Rs Fifty lakhs insurance cover to all frontline workers covering all deaths on duty; also coverage of treatment for Covid-19 for the entire family.
5. An additional incentive of Rs.25,000 per month for all the contract and scheme workers engaged in Covid -19 duty. Payment of all the pending dues of ASHA workers immediately
6. Compensation of minimum Rupees Five lakhs for all those who got infected while on duty
7. Provide free and adequate COVID tests and treatment to all non-tax-paying people.
8. Ensure adequate facilities in quarantine centres and hospitals.
9. Free ration /food for all the needy and Rs.7500 per month for all non-taxpaying families for six months
10. Strengthen the public health system and health infrastructure.
11. Allocate 6% of GDP for the health sector;
12. Withdraw proposals for privatization of public health infrastructure and services
13. Enact legislation for right to universal healthcare
14. Make NHM a permanent health programme of the government, with universal application and adequate financial allocation.
Also Read: 20,000 beds for COVID-19 patients in Delhi by next week: Shah
