More than 10,000 ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) went on strike on Friday and marched from City Railway Station to Freedom Park demanding that their fixed monthly salary of Rs 12,000 be paid to them.
The workers said that they have not been paid their wages for the last 15 months and that their meetings with officials from the Health and Family Welfare Department and health minister B Sreeramulu have gone futile.
D Nagalakshmi, Secretary of Karnataka state samyukta ASHA workers said, “We have met the health minister four timings. We have been getting only promises. And this is why we have taken to the streets. This will be an indefinite protest until our demands are met.”
While Rama, State Committee Member of AIUTUC remarked, “There are 41,000 Asha workers in Karnataka. Only 20% of them are regularly getting their pay and the rest are just left with nothing. Despite this, they are sticking to the job with the hope that they will be paid soon. But, how long can they wait? We want the government to release their salary immediately.”
The strike is said to be indefinite until their dues are paid to them.
