Odisha Govt Announces Rs 10K Each For For ASHAs

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government on Friday announced Rs 10,000 each for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to buy an umbrella, shoes, a cycle, an almirah and a torch light.

The 47,000 ASHAs, working in both rural and urban areas of the state will get this benefit.

Under the ‘Ama Mukhya Mantri, Ama Katha’ programme, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also announced financial assistance of Rs 10,000 each and increased the one-time honorarium to Rs 20,000 each under ASHA Abyahati Yojana.

They will receive the honorarium under Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) after completing at least 10 years of service or on retirement at the age of 62.

“ASHAs play an important role in the health service sector. They are really doing a good job by creating awareness among the people regarding mother and child care and health issues like malaria, diarrohea, TB and Leprosy etc,” said the Chief Minister.

The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) have declined in the past decade due to the dedicated and selfless service of ASHA workers, said the Chief Minister.

He expressed the hope that ASHAs would continue to work with the same dedication in the future.