Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 3: The demand for improved wages and timely welfare benefits for Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers took centre stage in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday, with the Andaman and Nicobar ASHA Workers Union urging the Administration to enhance honorarium, ensure regular payment of incentives and restore discontinued benefits. The demands were raised during the Union’s General Body meeting held in Sri Vijaya Puram on August 1.
The meeting discussed issues relating to the remuneration and working conditions of ASHA workers in the Union Territory. According to the resolutions adopted during the meeting, the Union sought honorarium at par with that of ASHA workers in Puducherry, noting that the honorarium there has recently been enhanced to Rs. 18,000 per month.
Addressing the gathering, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary of the CITU State Committee, expressed concern that ASHA workers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands receive the lowest remuneration in the country. He also spoke about movements being undertaken by workers, farmers, youth and students across the country against what he described as anti-people policies of the Central Government.
R. Surendran Pillai, President of the CITU State Committee, called upon ASHA workers in the islands to remain united in pursuing their demands. D. Ayyappan, Vice President of the CITU State Committee, stated that the recent enhancement in the honorarium of ASHA workers had been approved by the Central Government following sustained agitation and engagement with the authorities. He also said ASHA workers, who are often required to work for extended hours, receive only a modest honorarium.
The meeting also adopted a resolution seeking regular payment of incentives to ASHA workers in the North and Middle Andaman district. Another resolution demanded payment of travelling allowance (TA) and daily allowance (DA) for attending official meetings.
The Union further urged the authorities to resume issuing uniforms to ASHA workers in North and Middle Andaman, stating that the practice had been discontinued after 2012. It also demanded the restoration of the Union Territory’s monthly contribution of Rs. 500 for ASHA workers in the district.
During the meeting, Anbumalar presented the report on the functioning of the Union, while M. Hazra presided over the proceedings. ASHA workers participated in discussions on their demands before electing Anbumalar as President, Sabida Banu as General Secretary and Devki Munda as Treasurer of the Andaman and Nicobar ASHA Workers Union.
