ASHA workers in Darjeeling fight for higher salary

EOI, DARJEELING, SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 : ASHA workers on Monday organized a rally in Darjeeling town and blocked traffic movement for 10 minutes to demand an increase in salary. The rally which started from the railway station assembled at Chowk Baazar where they blocked the road for a while and then went to the Darjeeling district hospital, shouting slogans. 

"Our honorarium is too low. We are getting only Rs 4,500, while we have to work a lot. The incentives we get are also delayed and less compared to those they get in the plains. We want both to be increased," said Sarika Rai, an ASHA worker. 

The program which was held under the banner of the Paschim Banga ASHA Karmi Union also submitted a list of demands to the hospital authorities. The other demands included providing of uniform, not being made to do PMMVY work and immediate disbursement of incentive money. 

They also demanded that incentive and honorarium of ASHA employees be increased, smart mobiles be provided to do online work, incentive and mobile recharge be paid at the right time every month; along with providing travel allowances for extra duty and training. 

The list of demand also mentioned that all holidays should be announced for ASHA employees like government employees, providing maternity leave along with life Insurance and provident fund. 

The union also threatened to start a pen down strike after October 6 if their demands were not met.