ASHA workers march in Nagpur over Diwali bonus; CM promises high-level meeting after festival

ASHA workers and group promoters took to the streets of Nagpur on Thursday, demanding a Diwali bonus, restoration of the honorarium that was cut, and absorption of group promoters into government service. Led by AITUC, workers from across Vidarbha held a 'De Dhadak' morcha to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's public relations office. After the march, the Chief Minister assured them that a high-level meeting would be held after Diwali.

The protesters' first demand was that ASHA workers and group promoters be paid a Diwali bonus immediately. They also demanded that the Rs 5,000 Bhaubeej gift announced by the government be paid without delay. Payments remain stuck even in the festival season, so the workers staged a sit-in in front of the Chief Minister's public relations office to draw the government's attention. A memorandum of demands was also submitted.

The organisation demanded that the Centre withdraw the cut it made in the honorarium under the PIP and restart the honorarium as before. It also asked that all workers be given a minimum monthly salary of Rs 26,000 and the status of employees, and that group promoters be taken into government service.

Other demands included raising the retirement age from 60 to 65, sanctioning paid leave, ending the strictness over online work, and stopping work that is being got done without payment. They also demanded that the Centre's and the state's remuneration be paid regularly every month.

After the protest, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to a delegation at his official residence, Ramgiri. He said a high-level meeting would be held soon after Diwali to resolve the questions of ASHA workers and group promoters. He also directed Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to arrange a meeting of senior Health Department officials and AITUC office-bearers.

Gadchiroli co-guardian minister Ashish Jaiswal was present. The march was led by AITUC state general secretary Shyam Kale and vice-presidents Vinod Zodge-Patil, Shivkumar Ganvir, Mangala Pande, Shalu Kuthe, Nayan Gaikwad and Ramchandra Patil. The organisation warned that if the demands are not accepted at the post-Diwali meeting, a 'Mahapadav Morcha' will be held across the state during the winter session.