Mumbai: 5,000 ASHAs storm Azad Maidan in hope of Rs 10k hike

The massive sit-in demonstration by ASHA workers at Azad Maidan

For the last two days, around 5,000 Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers have been rallying at Azad Maidan, casting doubt on Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's commitment to a government resolution (GR) for income hike. This scepticism arose after a meeting between ASHA representatitives and Chief Minister Eknath Shinder during the ongoing protests at his home turf in Thane. Health Minister Tanaji Sawant announced the hike in the honorarium last November as a "Diwali gift," but the government failed to follow through on the announcement even as months passed.

Most of these workers arrived in the city from other parts of Maharashtra after their Thane protest from February 8 to February 10. Mid-day reported on Thursday that 500 of these women walked from Shahpur to Thane in protest, 27 of whom required hospitalisation. Savita Shelar, an ASHA supervisor from Shahpur who was at Azad Maidan, said, "We did not want to come here from Thane and cause any kind of crowding. The Central and the state governments talk of women's empowerment, but the conditions of ASHAs are terrible. So many women are at the protest in Mumbai, risking their safety, sleeping on the roads, without even thinking about their one-time meal."

In the absence of prior arrangements, ASHAs from Thane are packing up and carrying two time meals in large amounts for their fellow workers from other parts of the state.

"Only we are there for each other. Nobody from the government has come forward to even talk to us here in the city, and neither is the media interested in highlighting our issues," said Sandhya Patekar, another ASHA supervisor from Bhiwandi.

ASHAs are demanding an increase in honorarium from Rs 10,000 to Rs 17,000, and their supervisors, who handle about 10 ASHAs each, are demanding an increase from Rs 14,000 to Rs 24,000.

When asked why don't most ASHA workers hunt for other sources instead of pinning hopes on uncertainties, she said, "Many of us are not so well-educated and we work in areas that lack alternative job opportunities." Shelar also flagged this and said that these women have worked for more than a decade, and some of them have also reached an age where they no longer have an option of turning back. "We were told the decision on GR would be taken in the next cabinet meeting. We will only leave the city once the GR comes," she said.