BHADERWAH: Scores of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers held a protest demonstration in the premises of Sub District hospital (SDH) here over inadequate salary and lack of COVID-19 related safety measures including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits.Dozens of ASHA workers early in the morning assembled in the premises of SDH Bhaderwah and staged protest against higher authorities for failing to enhance their wages and also failing to provide them with COVID-19 safety measures including PPE kits and other incentives.Rinku Devi President, Rozy Begum General Secretary, Nustrat Begum, Sushma Devi and other leaders of ASHA workers demanded immediate increase in their wages and regularization of their services as all workers are performing their duties in COVID 19 pandemic without any fear with doctors and other paramedical staff.”We are protesting here at SDH Bhaderwah to demand hike in monthly honorariums and COVID-19 related safety measures but no one is paying any attention to our genuine demands,” Rinku Devi said.She alleged the UT Government has completely neglected them even though they are at the forefront in fight against COVID-19 pandemic like other frontline COVID warriors.ASHA workers said that they are asked to meet COVID-19 positive patients from the last one year and most of the contact tracing is being done by them, however, there are no adequate safety equipment available for them which is unfortunate.
