Question : ASHA Workers

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of ASHA workers engaged in the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) the details of the tasks assigned to the ASHA workers and the average weekly working hours assigned for them;

(c) whether the ASHA workers get fixed and uniform pay in all States, if not, whether the Government proposes to make it uniform across all the States;

(d) whether the Government proposes to make services of ASHA workers permanent, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(e) the details of incentives being paid to the ASHA workers along with the average monthly payments made to them; and

(f) the other measures the Government plans to take to improve the financial security of ASHA workers?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a): Statement showing State/UT-wise details of ASHAs engaged under National Health Mission (NHM), is given at Annexure-I

(b): Under the National Health Mission, ASHAs act as a critical link between Healthcare delivery system and community. The details of task assigned ASHAs under National Health Mission are given at Annexure-II.

(c): No as the States/UTs have flexibility to decide on type of incentive to be given to ASHAs as per their specific context/need in addition to routine and recurring incentives under National Health Mission.

(d): No. Under the National Health Mission, ASHA are envisaged to be community health volunteers.

(e): Under the National Health Mission, ASHA are entitled to task/activity based incentives. List of various activities for which incentives are provided to ASHA is given at Annexure-III.


(f): To improve the financial security of ASHAs, the Government of India has already taken several steps in addition to routine and recurring incentives, which inter-alia includes :

? Benefits of Life insurance, accident insurance and pension to eligible ASHAs and ASHA facilitators are extended by enrolling them under:

• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana (premium of Rs. 330 contributed by GOI).

• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (premium of Rs. 12 contributed by GOI).

• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi MaanDhan (PM-SYM) (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