ASHAs demand TA, DA for Bhavani Deeksha duties in Vijayawada

The Andhra Pradesh Accredited Social Health Activist (AP-ASHA) Workers Union has demanded that the State government pay special allowance to the ASHA workers who were assigned duties for ‘Bhavani Deeksha’ from December 21. 

The union submitted a memorandum to NTR District Collector Lakshmisha on Monday, December 2. 

Union NTR district secretary A. Kamala said that the ASHA workers have been assigned duties to provide health services to Bhavani devotees coming from across the State. For the last four years, the ASHAs have spent hundreds of rupees travelling from their homes to the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada but have not received reimbursement, causing them financial strain.

During the Dasara festival, ASHAs provided health services to devotees in three shifts for 15 days. Many workers rely on the ₹10,000 honoraria provided by the government to make a living, and despite facing financial hardships, they have been covering their own travel expenses to fulfil their duties. However, no travel allowance has been paid to them in any year, she said.

Ms. Kamala requested the Collector to intervene and ensure that special allowances, Travel Allowance (TA), and Dearness Allowance (DA) are paid to those assigned duties for Bhavani Deeksha starting December 21 and to the Asha workers who worked during the Dasara festival from October 3 to 13.  “If these payments are not made, the ASHAs should be exempted from duties for the Bhavani Deeksha conclusion,” she added.