Meghalaya govt agrees to extend financial assistance to ASHA workers, urges them to resume work
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the ASHA workers, Hek said, “We have asked the ASHA workers to call off the indefinite strike and, they have agreed to it.”
By Daiaphira Kharsati
SHILLONG:
Meghalaya Health Minister A.L. Hek, on Wednesday, informed that the government has agreed to extend financial assistance to the ASHA workers, and requested them to resume their work at the earliest.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the ASHA workers, Hek said, “We have asked the ASHA workers to call off the indefinite strike and, they have agreed to it.”
Informing that the ASHAs are getting the incentives of Rs 1000 only from the National Health Mission (NHM), Hek announced that the state government would release an incentive of Rs 2000 monthly and Rs 1000 as COVID incentive for 6000 ASHA workers in the state.
He further informed that the incentive will be provided to the workers irrespective of the type of work, adding that it will not be based on performance.
Hek also assured that the pending dues from 2011-2018, under Meghalaya Maternity Benefit Scheme, amounting to about Rs 22 crore, will be cleared by July this year.
However, the government has expressed its inability to clear the dues of 2019 and 2020, although he assured that strategies will be worked out.
Upcoming health facility at Lawmali
On the same day, the Health Minister also inspected the ongoing construction of the state of the art diagnostic centre at Pasteur Institute at Lawmali and informed that 80 per cent of work has been completed.
The health centre is a joint venture between the Salvia Global LLP and the Government of Meghalaya.
"This diagnostic centre will facilitate 700 different tests that will not only help the state's progress in healthcare but also make Meghalaya a medical hub for medical treatments," Hek added.
(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)
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