Shillong, June 23: In response to the indefinite strike called by the Meghalaya ASHA Workers Union (MAWU) since June 19, Meghalaya government on Wednesday 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 with officials of the department and a delegation of the Meghalaya ASHA Workers Union (MAWU) on Wednesday.

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.

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.

He said the state government has decided to provide an additional incentive of Rs 2,000 to all ASHA workers in the state, adding that 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).

The financial implication of the additional incentive would come to around Rs. 17 crore annually.

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

The Minister 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.