Right Body's Notice To Centre, States On ASHA Workers' 'Poor Working Condition'

"The NHRC has taken cognisance of a complaint that the ASHA workers are not getting their dues and safety equipment despite being working on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic," a statement said.

The NHRC has issued notices to the the centre and the states over allegations of "poor working conditions" of ASHA workers in the rural areas across the country, the rights panel said on Monday. The National Human Rights Commission has observed that the allegations of "poor working conditions", if true, raise very crucial issues as the entire health management system of the vast rural population across India depends upon these ASHA workers. "The NHRC has taken cognisance of a complaint that the ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers are not getting their dues and safety equipment despite being working on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic in the rural areas across the country," a statement said. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and to the chief secretaries of the states to submit their reports on the issues raised in the complaint within six weeks, the rights panel said in the statement.