More than 150 ASHA workers died due to COVID-19 and ill-health but the government has not paid compensation to the bereaved families, leaders of the ASHA Workers’ Association alleged.
Many ASHA and community health workers discharged COVID-19 duties during the first, second and third waves of the pandemic, and suffered in the process. But the government has paid compensation only to three ASHA workers who died of COVID-19, they alleged.
ASHA workers were facing heavy workload and there were no maternity benefits. Staff were attending to their duties even while they were pregnant, and they were facing severe problems while discharging their duties in the tribal hamlets of Agency areas and in the island villages, said ASHA Workers’ Association State general secretary K. Dhanalakshmi.
