Karnataka: Over 40,000 Asha workers on strike, demand pay hike, better protective gear

For the past 11 days, over 40,000 ASHA workers, who have been on the forefront in the fight against corona, have been on a strike demanding better wages and improved protective gear. From the time the pandemic hit the state, ASHA workers have been on their toes working tirelessly.

Even though their primary job is being a community level care provider which includes a mix of tasks: facilitating access to health care services, building awareness about health care entitlements especially amongst the poor and marginalized, promoting healthy behaviours and mobilising for collective action for better health outcomes, the government has roped them in the fight against Covid-19.

Today they are engaged in conducting house to house surveys of those with a severe acute respiratory infection, influenza-like illness, cold, cough, fever, comorbidities, travel history. They also quarantine these people, take them for swab tests and conduct health screenings.