Mumbai: 27 ASHAs hospitalised during protest march

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During a protest march from Shahpur to the Collector's office in Thane on Thursday, around 500 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) faced health issues. Twenty-seven of them were taken to Bhiwandi's Indira Gandhi Hospital. "We are expecting about 10,000 more workers from across the state to arrive in Thane. If there is no resolution to the demands raised by ASHAs, we will be heading to Mantralaya," said Raju Desle of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

The demands include an honorarium increase from the present Rs 10,000 to Rs 17,000 and the provision of mobile phones for app-based work. ASHAs, who are all women, serve as a bridge between the health system and the community. They go door-to-door to educate the masses on basic nutrition, government health services, and to look after the health of pregnant women.

The women also handle the distribution of medicines for TB and anemia patients and conduct screenings for routine infections like malaria. "Now we are also asked to sign up people for Aayushman Bharat using a mobile phone and many of them don't have of know how to use them," said 44-year-old Meena Thackeray, an Anganwadi worker who was rushed to the hospital after collapsing midway.

All these services have come to a halt since January 12, when they declared a strike. "People keep calling us to look after pregnant women but how long can we keep working without sufficient pay?" Thackeray said. Sandhya Patekar, an ASHA supervisor in Bhiwandi, mentioned that a few months ago, Health Minister Tanaji Sawant had assured the workers of an increase in honorarium, yet nothing has been done yet. National Health Mission commissioner Dheeraj Kumar was unavailable for comment.