Odisha announces fixed monthly allowance for ASHA workers

Bhubaneswar: To remunerate ASHA workers for their services, the Odisha government today announced a fixed monthly allowance & maternity benefits for the health workers.

A fixed allowance of Rs 2,000 will be given to ASHA workers in the State over and above other financial benefits, a government press release in this regard stated.

The State government has earmarked a budget of Rs 157 crore for implementation of the decision which will benefit more than 47,000 ASHA workers in Odisha.

Besides, the State has launched the ‘ASHA Matrutwa Yojana’ to provide maternity benefits to ASHA workers.

Under the scheme, starting from the seventh month of pregnancy to three months following childbirth, ASHA workers will get Rs 1,000 monthly or Rs 6,000 in total as maternity benefits. The State government has made an annual budgetary provision of Rs 56.52 lakh for this scheme.