Security Measures for Asha Workers during COVID-19

PIB News Update: The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh. Ashwini Kumar Choubey has informed that Under the National Health Mission, ASHAs are envisaged to be community health volunteer and are entitled only to task/activity based incentives.  In FY 2018-19 the Union Cabinet revised the amount of incentive for ASHAs from  Rs 1000  to 2000 per month.

In addition to routine and recurring incentives,   many States/UTs have also introduced fixed monthly honorarium for ASHAs from their respective States/UTs budget. The  details for which are given  in Annexure I.

The Government of India has been taking various measures to empower and secure the working of ASHAs from time to time.

In the year 2018, the ASHA benefit package was introduced acknowledging significant contribution and commitment of ASHAs. The package provides coverage for :-

 

• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti BeemaYojana (premium of Rs. 330 contributed by GOI)
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (premium of Rs. 12 contributed by GOI)
• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan Yojana (50% contribution of premium by GOI and 50% by beneficiaries)

 

Moreover, under the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, Insurance Scheme has been introduced for all health workers, including ASHAs.  This insurance scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs. 50 Lakh  in case of loss of life on account of COVID related duty.

Besides the above, States/UTs have been asked to ensure provision of safety tools like masks and sanitizers for ASHAs.

The ASHAs are also empowered by enhancing their competency and professional  credibility through certification program &36,544 ASHAs have been certified till 5^th February, 2021 under the program.

 

 

ANNEXURE-I

A statement showing State-wise details of number of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) deployed for containing local transmission of COVID-19 and number of them who were made available with Personal Protective equipment (PPE) Kits

State/ UT	Total No. of ASHAs in position	Number of ASHAs deployed for containing local transmission of COVID-19	Number of PPE Kits made available to ASHAs whoever assigned duties in containment zone
Arunachal Pradesh	4040	2753	6560
Assam	32546	32546	13455
Andhra Pradesh*	42752	42752	All 42752 ASHAs were provided with N95 masks, & sanitizers.
Bihar	87573	81351	81351
Chhattisgarh	72048	69934	69934
Delhi	5997	5008	5008
Gujarat*	43116	43116	All 43116 ASHAs  were provided with N95 masks and sanitizers.
Haryana	20268	20268	5250
Himachal Pradesh	7834	7834	7834
Jharkhand	39964	39964	900
Karnataka*	41683	41452	All ASHAs were provided with sanitizers, face mask, face shield as per guidelines
Kerala	26310	25798	1177
Madhya Pradesh	63336	49603	22610
Maharashtra	68024	67396	68351
Manipur	4009	3815	4009
Meghalaya	6804	5886	6804
Mizoram	1091	1091	1091
Nagaland*	2007	1845	1845 ASHAs were provided with masks and sanitizers.
Odisha	46782	46782	46782
Punjab	19841	19764	19764
Rajasthan	52248	48600	5881
Sikkim*	676	676	All 676 ASHAs were provided with masks, gloves and sanitizers.
Tamil Nadu	2650	2650	2650
Telangana*	27040	27040	All 27040 ASHAs were provided with N95 masks, sanitizer and head gear.
Tripura*	7638	7638	All 7638 ASHAs were provided with N95 masks, sanitizers  & head gear
Uttar Pradesh*	154722	154722	All 154722 ASHAs were provided with N95 masks & sanitizers.
Uttarakhand	11899	11899	11899
West Bengal	53553	53553	27526
Andaman &Nicobar Islands	422	292	292
Daman and Diu	105	105	105
Dadar& Nagar Haveli	334	334	334
Puducherry*	316	316	All 316 ASHAs were given masks, cap, sanitizers  & gloves.
Ladakh	539	539	1200
Jammu and Kashmir	12421	11775	5566
Lakshadweep	102	0	Not applicable since ASHAs were not deployed for containing local transmission of COVID-19 as no cases of COVID 19 were reported till December, 2020.
Total	960690	929097	416333

 

Note :  *As reported by   respective States/UTs, ASHAs were engaged in survey, referral and IEC activities during COVID-19  pandemic, therefore, they were provided with sanitizers , face masks etc.