State-wide Agitation by Uttarakhand ASHA Workers’ Union

Uttarakhand Asha Health Workers’ Union affiliated to AICCTU organized a state-wide agitation against the repeated betrayals of the Uttarakhand government and demanding rights for the Asha workers in the State. Even though Asha workers are the backbone of the health department, the government is not even providing them a minimum honorarium.

In 2011, after a sustained agitation of Asha workers, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister had announced an annual incentive of Rs 5000. Three years after this announcement, even this small amount has not been paid to their accounts. The Asha workers’ union had organized a huge demonstration in the capital Dehradun (called the “Jawab do-Hisab do” rally) on 15 September, to demand answers from the government for this betrayal. After this protest, the government was forced to promise payment of the incentive amount while also making assurances of action on other demands. However, till date, neither has the payment been made, and nor has action on any other matter been taken. The state-wide agitation was thus undertaken.

After demonstrations and effigy burnings across the State, the workers submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister through various authorized officials, and warned that the struggle would continue till their demands were met. The memorandum submitted several demands such as regularization of Asha workers with government employee status, Rs 15000 minimum monthly wage and Rs 5000 annual incentive with immediate payment along with arrears, Diwali bonus, free treatment for Asha workers in government hospitals and issue of health cards, accident insurance, end of PPP model in the health department, and guarantee of pension. Protests were held in Haldwani, Nainital, Ramnagar, Garampani, Betalghat, Dhari, Bindukhatta, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Bhikiyasain, Kapkot, Bageshwar, Dwarhat, Jaspur, Bajpur, Khatima, Sitarganj, Tanakpur, Lohaghat, Didihat, Dharchula, Ranikhet, and Almora.

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