Shillong, June 22: Meghalaya Health Minister, AL Hek has informed that the government is already in the process of clearing the pending incentives to ASHA workers in the state, and an amount of Rs. 1.60 crore has already been released. However, this amount is yet to be disbursed to the ASHA workers.

His statement comes as a reaction to the announcement by Meghalaya ASHA Workers Union (MAWU) for an indefinite strike from June 19 onwards against non-payment of their incentives, besides demanding increase in their honorarium from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per month.

“The amount was sanctioned up to May this year and it has already credited to all district health society accounts,” Hek told reporters on Monday adding that the protest by ASHA workers maybe be because the concerned authority is yet to disburse the incentives to them.

Hek said the incentives for the ASHA workers were also released in three installments with Rs 1,000 for ASHA workers and Rs 500 for the ASHA facilitators.

He said the first installment of Rs 4.17 crore was released for the month of April to September, 2020 and the second installment of Rs 4.17 crore was for the month of October, 2020 to March 2021 while the third installment was of Rs 1.60 crore for April to May, 2021.

HYC’s support to ASHA workers

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Monday came to the support of the aggrieved ASMA workers and demanded that the latter’s issues be addressed immediately.

In a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday, HYC general secretary, Roy Kupar Synrem said the Meghalaya ASHA Workers Union (MAWU) have time and again raised various issues of unpaid incentives as well as enhancement of honorarium with the state government but their demands have fell on deaf ears, forcing them to stage protest and strike.

Terming the demands of the ASHAs as valid and logical, Synrem said the state government must take immediate action especially during this time where the service of the AHSAs is inevitable in the fight against the coronavirus.

“They should be given due recognition and rewards for their services and invaluable role at the grassroots healthcare system,” he said.

The ASHAs have been tasked by the government to conduct door-to-door survey of the returnees, collect information, check for symptoms and monitor the health and wellbeing of people who are quarantined besides delivering them medicines and other kits.

Despite the risk they are taking and their hard work, Synrem said the ASHA workers are treated at subpar by the Government and they are not being recognised for their hardwork and dedication.