'5T Secy visiting districts for votes': ASHA workers hit streets over govt 'apathy', demand regular job

After Primary Teachers and Anganwadi workers, scores of ASHA workers from every nook and corner of the state on Monday flocked to Lower PMG and staged a protest over various demands. Regularisation of jobs, salary hike to Rs 26,000 per month, pension of Rs 10,000, and Rs 8 lakh retirement benefits are among the various demands of the agitating ASHA workers.

The agitators alleged that despite their repeated protests, the BJD-led government has turned a deaf ear to their pleas. Thousands of members of the Odisha Ashakarmi Association threatened to boycott the upcoming 2024 polls if their demands are not met.

"5T Secretary VK Pandian has been visiting districts for votes and trying to woo SHG women. It seems like we do not exist for the government. We have been working for a meager pay for years. They pay us a meager Rs 4,000 for the toil we do throughout the month. Don’t we have a family? Will we work for free for the government? Don’t we have children to feed?” questioned the angry ASHA workers.

“We want a permanent job and monthly salary on the 10th of every month. From taking care of an expecting mother (pregnant woman) to taking care of the child till he/she becomes 16 years old, we do everything. But, the government is not doing anything for us except for false promises. 2023 is about to end, and we have been fooled by the government since 2006,” said an agitating ASHA worker.

“The government is treating us like volunteers and exploiting us for the service to society. There is no safe future, no pension, no retirement benefits nor any fixed salary for us. So, we have hit the streets and will continue to protest till our demands are fulfilled,” she added.

"The infant and maternity mortality rate in the state has declined due to our hard work. However, the 5T secretary is visiting various districts for the SHGs and to garner votes, not for us," rued another protestor.