ASHA health workers in Delhi launch indefinite strike; protest outside Kejriwal's residence

NEW DELHI: Scores of ASHA health workers in Delhi today launched an indefinite strike, staging a protest outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence demanding regularisation of services and fixation of minimum wages.

"Government has been insensitive to our demands. We do not fall in the pay roll of the government unlike Anganwadi workers though we play a vital role by serving the rural population and it is a 24-hour job.

"We should be regularised as government health workers and should get all social security benefits like pension, gratuity, maternity benefits etc," said Kavita, a member of the Delhi ASHA Workers Association.

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers from dispensaries across the national capital have suspended their vaccination and delivery duties till their demands are met.

"We will not get back to work until our demands are fulfilled. We (ASHA workers) have been ignored by the government for decades," said another ASHA worker.

Asha workers have been playing a pivotal role in the implementation of National Rural Health Mission and bringing down the infant mortality rate by ensuring institutional deliveries, ensuring vaccination of children, providing all services of family planning and reducing anaemia among women and children.