Update: The ASHA workers’ fight for fair honorarium took on momentum when they began protesting in July for fixed wages, free treatment, and regular check-ups.
In early August, the Karnataka government, taking cognizance of their commitment and efforts to fight the pandemic, agreed to clear all remaining dues. By September, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare agreed to the workers’ demands for a raised wage of ₹12,000!
While your signatures helped raise their demands to the decision makers, your financial support did a lot of good on-ground.
We conducted mask distributions for ASHA workers in the districts of Bengaluru, Mangalore, Koppal, and Ballari. With over 7,000 masks distributed, we ensured that our frontline workers are protected as well.
Thank you for distributing masks. It makes us feel safe during the on ground work we do.
-ASHA Worker
June: When I spoke to an ASHA worker recently, I could feel a genuine concern about her and her colleague’s safety while out on the field facing the COVID crisis upfront.
Following the conversation with them, Jhatkaa decided to distribute 300 masks to the ASHA workers.
ASHA workers not only appreciated the distribution but had hope and joy in their voices — the joy of relief. A relief that you and I, together made it happen — by one small and simple act — distributing masks.
Let’s keep the distribution drive up and running — our health workers need it now more than ever.
“We go from one house to another for surveys and health check-ups. There is a high risk of infection. Not having masks makes it so much more difficult, and scary,”
says an ASHA worker in Bangalore.
They deserve better — they deserve to go out in the field all geared up with protective and sanitation measures and in turn, help us get out of this lockdown sooner.
Our safety directly depends on their well-being.
{We are also in direct contact with the ASHA workers to push their demands to the National Health Mission (NHM) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
They demand the basic minimum:
– Ration kits
– Essential medicines
– Honorarium for being a high-risk worker during COVID crisis
P.S: Your recurring or one-time donations will go into helping us take ASHA workers’ demands to the ministries and help them get the protective gear needed to ensure their safety. As you know, we will keep posting about where your money is being utilised. Let’s do it for our ASHA workers.
Donate here: bit.ly/MasksForAshaWorkers
