ASHA workers seek ₹5,000 for election duty, warn of health service strain
The Karnataka State Joint ASHA Workers’ Association, affiliated to the All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), has demanded that the Election Commission provide a fixed honorarium of ₹5,000 to ASHA workers deployed for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar on Monday, the association stated that ASHA workers in several districts and taluks have been assigned as additional staff to assist Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in the ongoing SIR exercise, though they are not designated as BLOs themselves.
The association said district administrations, tahsildars, and health authorities issued orders deploying ASHA workers for the election-related work. However, it alleged that the official orders did not specify any provision for payment of honorarium for the additional duties.
ASHA workers are engaged under an incentive-based system and receive modest remuneration for their regular community health tasks. The association demanded a fixed honorarium of ₹5,000 for those assigned election duties, arguing that the additional work warrants fair compensation.
The SIR exercise runs from June 30 to July 29, a period of one month. The association expressed concern that this duration, overlapping with their regular health responsibilities, could hamper essential public health services.
ASHA workers are responsible for field-level services including care of pregnant women, postnatal mothers and newborns, immunisation, and implementation of various government health programmes in rural and urban areas. The association said requiring them to undertake daily house-to-house visits for the electoral roll revision over the same period could adversely affect these public health services unless adequate time and arrangements are made for them to perform both responsibilities.
According to the association, the Chief Electoral Officer assured the delegation that the representation would be examined.
