Issues of ASHA workers require urgent resolution; salary delays are unfair

Despite their low salary and modest work, ASHA workers make a significant contribution to the health sector. They perform the crucial task of going door-to-door, raising awareness about health issues, and informing people about government treatment plans. The data they collect also helps warn the health department about the spread of various diseases. There are over thirty thousand ASHA workers in the state, although this is not a permanent job. Despite being promised higher incentives than in other states, the maximum amount they receive is Rs 13,200 per month, which includes an honorarium of Rs 7,000 along with incentives.

Considering the inflation and the increased cost of living in the country, this is not a huge amount. People who have no other options usually engage in this profession. These are the people who are trying to maintain their homes by limiting themselves to the amount they receive every month. They have arrears for the last three months. They have been protesting day and night in front of the secretariat for more than a week under the leadership of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association, demanding an increase in honorarium and payment of arrears. No one would go on strike these days if they were getting their salaries on time, even if it was a small amount. Therefore, the government should take action to pay their arrears before advising or explaining to them.

The explanation is that they are unable to pay their salaries because they are not receiving any money from the centre. Health department spokespersons say that there is a due of more than Rs 1000 crore from the centre in the health sector alone. It is also necessary to clarify why this is not being received. People should know whether the center is not paying them intentionally or whether the money is not being received because the details of the expenditure of the money received and the completed health projects have not been submitted correctly. The government has a duty to ensure that the salaries of ASHA workers and school cooks are paid without fail. Otherwise, those who make a living on this small income will fall into the trap of local moneylenders. It will not be easy for them to recover from that.

Therefore, the government should ensure that the remuneration of such low-income earners does not stop. The lack of planning is more likely the reason for such halts than the availability of funds. The government should urgently prepare for discussions and measures to end the day-and-night strike of these frontline workers in the health sector without prolonging it further. It is not good to lose the services of these people at this stage when various infectious diseases are spreading. Government employees who earn lakhs of salaries have not been denied their salaries due to the economic crisis. Hence, it is unfair to deprive low-income earners of their salary under the pretext of the economic crisis.