Es 2K remuneration, maternity benefits for ASHA workers

The Odisha government has announced a remuneration of Rs 2,000 per month for ASHA health workers and also launched a maternity scheme for their care during pregnancy and motherhood, health and family welfare minister Pratap Jena has said.

Earlier, an Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) worker was paid Rs 600 a month to ensure four ante-natal check-ups and facilitating institutional delivery in rural areas and Rs 400 in urban areas.

According to provision of the ASHA Matrutwa Yojana, an ASHA worker would get monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 for six months for self-care during pregnancy from third trimester (seventh to ninth month) and new-born care up to three months.

While hailing the contribution of ASHA workers', Jena said the state gvernment has fixed the present assured monthly remuneration.

"Over 47,000 ASHAs across the state would be benefited and Rs 157 crore budgetary allocation has been made for the purpose. There has been a separate provision of Rs 56.52 lakh for Matrutwa Yojana," Jena said in the Assembly yesterday.