ASHA Volunteers Frustrated by Unpaid Work
Pune: "We don't get time from work already set by the government. We work on health and other government schemes. However, apart from this work, the work of various NGOs is always going on in the district. These tasks are always imposed on us. We don't get paid for it, but it's taking our time," said an ASHA volunteer. "We will no longer do the work of NGOs," he said.
Under the National Health Mission, group promoters and ASHA volunteers work in the district, but these volunteers have to do government work as well as NGOs.
They also get permission from the administration as NGOs are doing good health work in the district. Asha volunteers are entrusted with the responsibility due to shortage of manpower from NGOs.
Asha has also complained to the administration that the main work is being neglected as they are stuck in the work of NGOs. Meanwhile, ASHAs do the work and prepare a report and submit it to the NGO administration. In return, ASHA volunteer is not paid any kind of compensation.
Asha gets work-based compensation from the government, the responsibility of implementing new schemes falls on ASHA. Since this is an election year, the Centre and the state have announced various schemes, which are implemented at the village level by ASHA and Anganwadi workers.
The impact on work...
Group promoters and ASHA volunteers have to take time out from their day-to-day work to work for NGOs. It is affecting the original work as the work of NGOs is high.
NGOs come forward in large numbers to work in districts like Pune, through which many important works have also been taken up. Asha volunteers, however, say that the right decision needs to be taken as the work of the group promoters and ASHA is being affected.
It is the government that says there is no work, no price. So, we will only work if we are paid for the work of NGOs from now on. Rs 1,000 for group promoters and Rs 500 for ASHA volunteers for the work of NGOs. If we are not compensated, we will boycott the work of the institutions, says Nilesh Datkhile, Vice President, ASHA Group Promoter and ASHA Volunteer Association.
Asha volunteers work on a paid basis. They are paid for every work of the government. It is also said that their remuneration has been affected while doing the work of NGOs. The senior office will be apprised of asha volunteers' views in this regard, said, Dr. Sachin Desai, District Health Officer, Zilla Parishad.
