Port Blair, Jan 25: A meeting was held in the chamber of the Mission Director, UT Health Mission at Secretariat, Port Blair today (25.01.2024) afternoon in which the demands raised by the Andaman & Nicobar ASHA Workers Union (CITU) were discussed in detail with a delegation led by D. Ayyappan, Vice President, CITU A & N State Committee.  The Union has brought to the notice of the Mission Director that a paltry amount of Rs. 2000 per month is being paid to the ASHA Workers in Andaman & Nicoabr Islands as Honorarium and re-iterated its demand for raising this amount to Rs. 10,000 per month at par with the ASHA Workers working in the union territory of Puducherry. The delegation of Union had also demanded substantial increase in various incentives and brought to the notice of the Mission Director that a number of incentives are not being paid to the ASHA Workers.  

The Mission Director heard the demands of the delegation patiently and immediately directed the officials concerned present in the meeting to obtain the orders issued by various union territories in respect of honorarium and incentives being paid to the ASHA Workers in those UTs. He further assured that a comprehensive proposal will be submitted to the National Health Mission at Delhi and Lt. Governor, A & N Islands for implementing the rates of honorarium and incentives of any UT which are suitable and practicable in the islands taking into consideration the job profile, agreements with the ASHA workers, etc. He further directed the UTHM officials to take up with the Deputy Commissioners who are the Distract Chairpersons of National Health Mission in the district to clear the pending incentives, etc. of the ASHA Workers.  The Mission Director asked the Union leaders to furnish the details of the dues to the UTHM officials immediately. Mission Director was kind enough to assure the delegation that he will personally monitor the process and further assured the Union that he will consider the demands raised by the Union sympathetically. 

Anbumalar, General Secretary, Amina, Joint Secretary and Bimla Baa, Executive Committee Member of the A & N ASHA Workers Union (CITU) were in the delegation of Union which accompanied D. Ayyappan. Shri Ismail, Programme Officer, UTHM and other officials were present in the meeting.