Salary and Allowances of ASHA Workers
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2165
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22nd MARCH, 2022
SALARY AND ALLOWANCES OF ASHA WORKERS
2165: SMT. JHARNA DAS BAIDYA:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government is considering a plan to increase the salary and allowances of ASHA workers;
(b) if so, the details thereof, if not, whether any concrete step would be taken in this regard by Government in future; and
(c) the number of instances when the salary and allowances of ASHA workers have been increased during the last five years?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)
(a) to (c) ASHAs are envisaged to be community health volunteers and are entitled to task/activity based incentives. ASHAs receive a fixed monthly incentive of Rs. 2000 per month for routine and recurring activities and the details are placed at Annexure-I. Additionally, they are provided performance-based incentives for a varied set of activities under various National Health Programmes and is placed at Annexure-II. States/UTs in their programme implementation plans have also been given flexibility to provide a range of monetary incentives to the ASHAs and the details is placed at Annexure-III.
After the launch of the Ayushman Bharat scheme with operationalisation of Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), ASHAs are now additionally eligible for
Team Based Incentives (TBIs) along with ANMs based on monitored performance indicators (up to Rs. 1000 per month).
The Government has also approved a cash award of Rs. 20,000/- and a citation to ASHAs who leave the programme after working as ASHAs for minimum of 10 years, as acknowledgement of their contribution.
The ASHA benefit package was introduced acknowledging significant contribution and commitment of ASHAs. The package providing coverage for:
i) Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana (PMJJBY) with a benefit Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of death of the insured (annual premium of Rs. 330 contributed by GOI).
ii) Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (PMSBY) with a benefit of Rs. 2.00 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability; Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial disability (annual premium of Rs. 12 contributed by GOI).
iii) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan (PM-SYM) with pension benefit of Rs. 3000 pm after age of 60 years (50% contribution of premium by GOI and 50% by beneficiaries).
However, in view of the significant contribution towards the COVID-19 pandemic related work by ASHAs, States were advised to pay an additional incentive of Rs.1000/- per month for those ASHAs engaged in COVID-19 related work using the resources of COVID-19 Health System Preparedness and Emergency Response Package.
Under the 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. 50.00 Lakhs in-case of loss of life on account of COVID-19 related duty.
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