SUCCESSFUL STRIKE BY ASHA WORKERS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

Demanding the declaration and implementation of minimum wages, payment of Rs.100 DA on ASHA day, payment of all earlier dues etc. 70700 ASHA workers in Andhra Pradesh went on an indefinite strike from 13 December, 2010. The strike came to a fruitful end after 23 days, on 4 January 2011. Seventy per cent of the ASHA workers in the state took part in this strike. Around 35-40 per cent participated In regular activity.

The ASHA workers were very militant in the struggle and when there was collectorate picketing in Warangal, Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Medak, Rangareddy and other districts on 27 December, approximately 70 workers were injured in the lathi charge on the picketing workers. Hundreds of ASHA workers were arrested. In Medak district cases were foisted on six leaders. More than 10,000 workers participated in this programme, in 19 districts.

Altogether 14 different kinds of programmes were conducted, some of which were quite creative and unique. These included submitting memoranda to statues of national leaders, relay hunger fast, human chains, burning of effigies, funeral procession of the government, cleaning roads, polishing shoes etc. In Rangareddy district, the workers demonstrated at a Zilla Parishad meeting in which the State Home Minister was participating. In view of the very evident determination and militancy of the striking ASHAs and coverage of all these programmes in the media, the Government finally had to relent and concede some of their demands.

A Government Order GO-3 was issued, which includes maintaining job charts, opening of Bank A/Cs, making medical officers of PHCs (Primary Health Centres) responsible for any violations of the norms set by the NRHM, uniform (2 sarees) per year. There is a considerable hike in remuneration; earlier free services (sevas) are also to be compensated monetarily. On an average the ASHAs are likely to get an income of Rs.750 per month now.

Although the ASHA workers have been demanding fixation of a wage and its regular payment, in consideration of the nature and extent of their work. Since this demand is to be solved at the all India level, they decided to withdraw the strike in view of the present GO.

Courtesy: www.citucentre.org/