NHRC calls for better pay, security, and rights for ASHAs

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held a core group meeting in New Delhi on empowering Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and ensuring their right to work with dignity. Chaired by NHRC Chairperson Justice V Ramasubramanian, the discussion emphasized ASHAs’ crucial role in India’s healthcare system and the urgent need for fair wages, better working conditions, and social security.

Recognizing ASHAs’ contributions to healthcare

Justice Ramasubramanian highlighted ASHAs’ pivotal role in reducing neonatal and infant mortality rates over the past two decades. He noted that despite their significant contributions, they receive inadequate remuneration, emphasizing that those who care for the marginalized often end up marginalized themselves.

Call for government collaboration and policy reforms

Justice Ramasubramanian stressed the need for a coordinated effort between the central and state governments to improve ASHAs’ working conditions. He called for concrete policies and actionable measures to ensure fair compensation and job security.

ASHAs as first responders in rural healthcare

NHRC Member Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi acknowledged that ASHAs are the first point of contact for pregnant women and children in rural areas. He urged the government to provide them with adequate incentives, protection, and recognition to ensure their right to a dignified life.

Key challenges and the way forward

During the meeting, experts and stakeholders discussed the major challenges faced by ASHAs, including low honorariums, excessive workload, lack of social security, and unsafe working conditions. Secretary General Bharat Lal noted that despite government schemes for women’s empowerment, ASHAs remain underpaid and overworked.

Recommendations for ASHAs’ welfare

The meeting proposed several measures to improve ASHAs’ status, including:

Granting ASHAs formal worker status with fixed salaries, social security, and pensions.
Standardizing wages across states and shifting from incentive-based pay to a fixed salary with performance bonuses.
Providing health insurance, maternity benefits, accident coverage, and free personal protective equipment (PPE).
Allocating unspent government funds to ASHA welfare, childcare, and elderly care services.
Establishing career pathways into nursing, midwifery, and public health administration through skill enhancement and bridge courses.
Ensuring safe working conditions, protection from harassment, and access to transport and rest areas.

Next steps for ASHA rights advocacy

The NHRC will further review the recommendations and seek additional inputs to push for policy changes that secure ASHAs’ rights, ensuring they receive fair wages and dignified working conditions in India’s healthcare system.

The speakers included Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary, MoHFW; Ms Pallavi Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development; Dr Shweta Khandelwal, Senior Advisor Jhpiego India; Ms Ruth Manorama, President, The National Alliance of Women (NAWO); Dr Sabiha Hussain, Professor and Director, Sarojini Naidu Center for Women’s Studies, Jamia Islamia University; Vaishali Barua, National Coordinator, UN Women India; Dipa Sinha, Visiting Professor, Azim Premji University; Surekha Secretary, ASHA Workers’ and Facilitators’ Federation of India (AWFFI); Sunita, ASHA Worker, Haryana, NHRC, India DG (I), R Prasad Meena, Registrar (Law), Joginder Singh, Director, Lt Col Virender Singh among others.