Security Measures for Asha Workers during COVID-19

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Under the National Health Mission, ASHAs are envisaged to be community health volunteer and are entitled only to task/activity based incentives.  In FY 2018-19 the Union Cabinet revised the amount of incentive for ASHAs from  Rs 1000  to 2000 per month.

In addition to routine and recurring incentives,   many States/UTs have also introduced fixed monthly honorarium for ASHAs from their respective States/UTs budget. The  details for which are given  in Annexure I.

The Government of India has been taking various measures to empower and secure the working of ASHAs from time to time.

In the year 2018, the ASHA benefit package was introduced acknowledging significant contribution and commitment of ASHAs. The package provides coverage for :-

 

  • Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti BeemaYojana (premium of Rs. 330 contributed by GOI)
  • Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (premium of Rs. 12 contributed by GOI)
  • Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan Yojana (50% contribution of premium by GOI and 50% by beneficiaries)

 

Moreover, 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 Lakh  in case of loss of life on account of COVID related duty.

Besides the above, States/UTs have been asked to ensure provision of safety tools like masks and sanitizers for ASHAs.

The ASHAs are also empowered by enhancing their competency and professional  credibility through certification program &36,544 ASHAs have been certified till 5th February, 2021 under the program.

 

 

ANNEXURE-I

A statement showing State-wise details of number of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) deployed for containing local transmission of COVID-19 and number of them who were made available with Personal Protective equipment (PPE) Kits

 State/ UT Total No. of ASHAs in position Number of ASHAs deployed for containing local transmission of COVID-19 Number of PPE Kits made available to ASHAs whoever assigned duties in containment zone
Arunachal Pradesh 4040 2753 6560
Assam 32546 32546 13455
Andhra Pradesh* 42752 42752 All 42752 ASHAs were provided with N95 masks, & sanitizers.
Bihar 87573 81351 81351
Chhattisgarh 72048 69934 69934
Delhi 5997 5008 5008
Gujarat* 43116 43116 All 43116 ASHAs  were provided with N95 masks and sanitizers.
Haryana 20268 20268 5250
Himachal Pradesh 7834 7834 7834
Jharkhand 39964 39964 900
Karnataka* 41683 41452 All ASHAs were provided with sanitizers, face mask, face shield as per guidelines
Kerala 26310 25798 1177
Madhya Pradesh 63336 49603 22610
Maharashtra 68024 67396 68351
Manipur 4009 3815 4009
Meghalaya 6804 5886 6804
Mizoram 1091 1091 1091
Nagaland* 2007 1845 1845 ASHAs were provided with masks and sanitizers.
Odisha 46782 46782 46782
Punjab 19841 19764 19764
Rajasthan 52248 48600 5881
Sikkim* 676 676 All 676 ASHAs were provided with masks, gloves and sanitizers.
Tamil Nadu 2650 2650 2650
Telangana* 27040 27040 All 27040 ASHAs were provided with N95 masks, sanitizer and head gear.
Tripura* 7638 7638 All 7638 ASHAs were provided with N95 masks, sanitizers  & head gear
Uttar Pradesh* 154722 154722 All 154722 ASHAs were provided with N95 masks & sanitizers.
Uttarakhand 11899 11899 11899
West Bengal 53553 53553 27526
Andaman &Nicobar Islands 422 292 292
Daman and Diu 105 105 105
Dadar& Nagar Haveli 334 334 334
Puducherry* 316 316 All 316 ASHAs were given masks, cap, sanitizers  & gloves.
Ladakh 539 539 1200
Jammu and Kashmir 12421 11775 5566
Lakshadweep 102 0 Not applicable since ASHAs were not deployed for containing local transmission of COVID-19 as no cases of COVID 19 were reported till December, 2020.
Total 960690 929097  

416333

 

Note :  *As reported by   respective States/UTs, ASHAs were engaged in survey, referral and IEC activities during COVID-19  pandemic, therefore, they were provided with sanitizers , face masks etc.

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh. Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

 

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