From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb14: Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar has promised to make honest efforts to fulfil all the demands of Asha workers and to try to get an announcement on increasing the honorarium in the budget itself.

He made the promise while addressing the State-level Asha workers convention in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Dr Sudhakar said he had tried to get Rs 1000 increase in the honorarium of Asha workers increased twice. The Chief Minister had announced an increase of Rs 1000 in the honorarium in his first budget, he said and promised that the government will try to solve their demands in the coming budget as well.

“I have been working as a representative of the Asha workers," Dr Sudhakar said pointing out that he has already held discussions with the Chief Minister on the demand for increasing the honorarium by Rs 2000 and hopefully a decision will be taken soon.

The minister said the Asha workers have demanded the setting up of a welfare fund of Rs 5 crore and it will be taken up with the Chief Minister.

The Asha workers had worked from home during the Covid pandemic period, he said and the government will consider the demand for making a lumpsum payment to Asha workers after a 10 year service or after 60 years.

Dr Sudhakar said the World Health Organisation had lauded the role played by the Asha workers during the Covid pandemic and even hailed them as the health warriors, he said pointing out that there were 10 lakh Asha workers in the country and the government is aware of their problems.

Apart from the work during the Covid period, the Asha workers are involved in preventing malnutrition. The institutional delivery must reach 100% from the present 90% and the infant as well as maternal mortality rates must come down significantly, he said asking the Asha workers to motivate the people.