a) the details of payment being made to the ASHA workers enrolled under National Rural Health Mission;
b) whether steps are being taken to acknowledge services of ASHA workers as full time employee;
c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
d) whether ASHA workers are covered in any social security schemes;
e) if so, the details thereof; and
f) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)
a) to (f) The Union Cabinet approved the revised amount of routine recurrent incentive for ASHAs, from Rs. 1000/month to Rs. 2000/month during FY 2018-19 under National Health Mission.
Now, ASHAs receive a fixed monthly incentive of Rs. 2000 per month for undertaking routine and recurring activities. The details of incentives for routine and recurring activities given to ASHAs is placed at Annexure-I. Additionally, she is provided performance-based incentives for a varied set of activities under various National Health Programmes is placed at Annexure- II.
After the launch of the Ayushman Bharat scheme with operationalisation of Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), ASHAs are now additionally eligible for Team Based Incentives (TBIs) along with ANMs based on monitored performance indicators (up to Rs. 1000 per month).
ASHAs are envisaged to be community health volunteer and are only entitled to task/activity based incentives.
In the year 2018, the ASHA benefit package was introduced acknowledging significant contribution and commitment of ASHAs. The package providing coverage for:
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana (PMJJBY) with a benefit Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of death of the insured (annual premium of Rs. 330 contributed by GOI).
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (PMSBY) with a benefit of Rs.2.00 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability; Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial disability (annual premium of Rs. 12 contributed by GOI).
• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan (PM-SYM) with pension benefit of Rs. 3000 pm after age of 60 years (50% contribution of premium by GOI and 50% by beneficiaries).
The government has also approved a cash award of Rs. 20,000/- and a citation to ASHAs who leave the programme after working as ASHAs for minimum of 10 years, as acknowledgement of their contribution.
Under the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, Insurance Scheme has been introduced for all health workers, including ASHAs. This insurance scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs. 50.00 Lakhs in-case of loss of life on account of COVID-19 related duty.