Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’ and his leader son Amit Thackeray have written a letter to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Health Minister Rajesh Tope requesting them to increase the monthly remuneration of ASHA- (Accredited Social Health Activist) volunteers and better working conditions. Amit Thackeray will also meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to demand an increase in the monthly remuneration of Asha volunteers.
Asha volunteers recently met MNS leader Amit Thackeray and requested him to take up their demanded with the government for increase in their monthly remuneration. Amit Thackeray also demanded in the letter that while deciding the honorarium of Asha Swayamsevaks, the decision should be taken at the state level and not at the municipal level, so that there will be no inequality.
He also mentioned that other states in the country like Andhra Pradesh and New Delhi give 10,000, Kerala 7,500, Karnataka and Haryana giving 4,000 as remuneration, then why is the Maharashtra government paying such meager amount? He also mentioned in the letter that this Asha workers working in Maharashtra during Corona pandemic so government should give them special incentive, as appreciation for their services .
What exactly did Amit Thackeray said in his Facebook post?
“Some ‘Asha’ volunteers came to see me. They are paid only Rs. 1,600 as honorarium in Maharashtra, whereas in other states, Asha workers remuneration around Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000. These volunteers become ‘health soldiers’ for the health of all of us, often risking their own lives. The work they have done, especially during the Covid-19 crisis, is commendable. Their demand for a higher monthly wage is justified. Hence I wrote a letter to the Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Health Minister Rajesh Tope”.
