Andhra Pradesh Introduces Gratuity for ASHA Workers and Extends Retirement Age
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Synopsis
The Andhra Pradesh government has announced crucial benefits for ASHA workers, including gratuity payments and an increase in retirement age to 62 years. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu emphasizes support for these vital health workers.
Key Takeaways
- Gratuity of Rs 1.5 lakh for ASHA workers upon retirement.
- Retirement age increased from 60 to 62 years.
- Paid maternity leave for 180 days for the first two deliveries.
- 42,752 ASHA workers to benefit from these new policies.
- Andhra Pradesh becomes the first state to offer gratuity to ASHA workers.
Amaravati, March 1 (NationPress) The NDA administration in Andhra Pradesh has declared gratuity for ASHA workers, raised the retirement age from 60 to 62 years, alongside other benefits.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday approved the payment of gratuity to ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers. Each individual will receive Rs 1.5 lakh upon retirement after serving for 30 years.
Andhra Pradesh will be the first state in India to provide gratuity to ASHA workers, as per an official statement.
The government has also introduced paid maternity leave for 180 days for the first two deliveries.
This initiative will benefit 42,752 ASHA workers across the state, with 37,017 in rural areas and 5,735 in urban regions.
During a review meeting of the health department, the Chief Minister approved several other benefits.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to analyze the salaries of ASHA workers, the facilities they receive, and comparable issues in other states to recommend methods for gratuity payment.
ASHA workers have long sought gratuity. Acknowledging this demand, the Chief Minister opted to implement the scheme.
According to an official release, previously, they were not compensated during maternity leave; however, the TDP-led coalition government has now decided to grant them paid maternity leave for 180 days for their first two deliveries. This measure will benefit each ASHA worker taking maternity leave by approximately Rs 60,000.
The release noted that even before 2019, Chandrababu Naidu had implemented various measures for the welfare of ASHA workers. In 2018, smartphones were distributed for the execution of their duties. Additional measures included prioritizing eligible candidates for ANM appointments, issuing ration cards, increasing the retirement age to 60, and granting eligibility for old age pensions post-retirement.
The Andhra Pradesh government currently compensates ASHA workers with a salary of Rs 10,000, the highest in the nation. In contrast, those performing similar tasks in other states receive considerably lower wages: Rs 750 in Uttar Pradesh, Rs 2,000 in Himachal Pradesh, Rs 2,700 in Rajasthan, Rs 3,000 each in West Bengal and Delhi, Rs 4,000 in Haryana and Karnataka, Rs 5,000 in Kerala, Rs 6,000 in Sikkim, and Rs 7,500 in Telangana.
Health Minister Satya Kumar expressed satisfaction with the Chief Minister’s decisions, stating that these historic measures demonstrate the Chief Minister’s commitment to health department issues.
