Asha workers get pay hike

KCR announces 6K regular monthly honorarium

​Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao announced Rs 6,000 salary to Asha workers, while stating that the allocation for the same would be hiked in the next budget.

At a meeting with Asha workers at Pragathi Bhavan here on Friday, KCR discussed the formers’ issues and offered them some sops. He announced Rs 6,000 honorarium hereafter on regular basis.

Stating that there was a need for improving the standards of health facilities at Anganwadi centres, the Chief Minister said Asha workers would be given priority for appointment of ANMs in the State.

The Chief Minister also said the lives of Asha workers and ANMs should be changed for better. He asked the officials to appoint trained Asha workers as ANMs to offer better and improved health services in rural areas.

Asha workers would be developed to the level of Anganwadi centres and offer the best services, he said. The Chief Minister also instructed the workers to ensure that the government assistance to pregnant women after delivery and KCR kits be delivered efficiently and in a transparent manner avoiding delay.

Chandrashekar Rao said the government would increase incentives for Asha workers, who should live with self-respect and should not be involved in bonded labour.

Though Asha workers and ANMs came under the Central government, which cut funds recently, the State government was offering them better salaries, he claimed.

He also opined that the poor pregnant women should be prevented from doing physical work until ninth month due to poverty. Such situation in the villages should not continue and the government would help them in all ways, said the Chief Minister.