Thousands of ASHA workers from various parts of Bihar marched together under the banner of the Bihar State ASHA Workers’ Association (Gope group) on 21 April in Patna, from Gandhi Maidan through Fraser Road, Dak Bangala Chowk, Patna junction, and GPO to R- block, shouting slogans. Their demands included declaration of ASHA workers as government workers and minimum honorarium of 15,000 among several other demands. The demonstration was led by the ASHA Association State President Shashi Yadav, Bihar State non-gazetted workers Association (Gope group) leader Rambali Prasad, General Secretary Prem Chand, AHA Association honorary President Suresh Prasad, Jehanabad Secretary Suneela Devi, Madhubani district Secretary Poonam Devi, Shyama Devi, Muzaffarpur district Secretary Anita Devi, Munger district President Julie Devi, Secretary Madhu Devi, and Siwan AIPWA leaders, Sohila Gupta and Malati Ram, Navada AIPWA leader Savitri Devi and others.
Addressing the meeting at R-block, leaders of both the organizations said that the situation of women working under contractual, honorarium and incentive systems is extremely pathetic. ASHA workers do not even get an honorarium. They get Rs 600 per delivery, with no accident, health, insurance, or pension benefits. They spend the whole night in hospitals, but do not get any place to sit, and receive derogatory treatment from officials. If they protest, they are threatened with removal from the job. They are made to do several other kinds of jobs, with no payment. They get no leave, not even maternity leave. Their work with child delivery entails late hours and they have often been victims of rape and molestation.
The speakers expressed astonishment that the government announced a women’s policy on the occasion of Bihar Day, but not a word was said about honorarium to these women. They pointed out that the Modi governments at the Centre, as well as the Nitish government in the State, are both neglecting the rights of working women. They vowed that if the Bihar government did not take steps to fulfill the demands of the ASHA workers, a statewide agitation would be launched.
