Shillong, Nov 6: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Monday said the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) workers, who are staging a ‘Rest from Work’ protest, are being provided with ‘adequate’ remunerations. At the same time, she clarified that it is not up to the government to increase their remunerations as it is based on a country-wide formula.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting chaired by the chief minister, Lyngdoh said, “We as a government feel that after due diligence that their (ASHAs) remunerations are adequate in nature.”
She said there are ASHAs who get up to Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 remuneration with every month’s engagement.
She said that ASHAs are not directly under the government’s purview as they are part of the village health councils (VHCs). They are the key players along with the dorbars, who ensure that villages across the state of Meghalaya are monitored productively as far as health indexes are concerned. Therefore, if anyone of these people failed in their duties, there will be a life-threatening casualty.
The minister also appealed to the ASHAs to withdraw their ongoing agitation. She said, “We request the ASHAs to go back and contribute efficiently under the supervision of the local dorbars. The VHCs today in the services of the sub centres that we have recently increased in the state of Meghalaya will be the key linkages to the department of health in its administration of services for better health for the people and the population of the state of Meghalaya.”
Further, the minister also maintained that it is not up to the state government to decide on enhancing the ASHAs’ remunerations as there is a formula for the entire country.
