ASHAs set to boycott pulse polio immunization programme again

SHILLONG: More than 6000 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in Meghalaya have once again resolved to boycott the three-day national pulse polio campaign from Monday to protest against the State government’s nonchalant attitude towards their demands.
“We have decided to again boycott the national pulse polio campaign in the State in view of the failure of the State government to comply with our demands,” Haphilin Pyrtuh, president, Joint Action Committee of ASHA Facilitators and Workers (JAC-AFW) said on Sunday.
Prior to this, ASHAs had boycotted the pulse polio campaign in the State in January.
Pyrtuh informed that they did not get any assurance from the government on resolution of their demands during their meeting with the East Khasi Hills District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) on Friday.
“We were only pressurized to call of our agitation,” she said while making it clear that they will not call off their agitation unless there is an assurance from the government with regards to fulfillment of their demands.
Meanwhile, she informed that they will hold a meeting at Mairang on Monday to listen to the grievances of the ASHAs working in the area.
Some of the demands of the ASHAs include absorption  of the workers as full time government employees, remuneration and full set of materials for conducting home delivery, enhancement of the wages, fixed honorarium and clearing the pending dues of the ASHAs for the direct observation treatment (DOT) of TB patients.