On Wednesday, many ASHA workers were detained by authorities in West Bengal while travelling from several districts to join protests at the state health department headquarters 'Swasthya Bhawan' in demand for a hike in monthly honorarium and insurance cover, PTI reported.
ASHA workers stopped from reaching 'Swasthya Bhawan'
The ASHA, or Accredited Social Health Activists, have been on 'cease-work' since December 23. They were detained for precautionary measures, police officials said.
As per the claims of some demonstrators, the police set up barricades outside Sealdah and Howrah railway stations. The ASHA workers had arrived from various districts to join the protests at Salt Lake Sector V. Instead, they sat on the platforms of the stations, as reported by PTI.
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"We have been prevented from exiting the Howrah station since 6:30 AM," PTI quoted an ASHA worker from Paschim Dinajpur. Several of the protestors were held near the 'Swasthya Bhawan' in the morning, where they had assembled for the protests.
Why are the ASHA workers protesting?
ASHA workers had earlier marched to the headquarters of the Health Department on January 8 and again on January 12. Their demands include a minimum monthly pay of Rs 15,000 and a cover of Rs 5 lakh if a worker's demise happens while on duty. They have sought a meeting with senior officials of the department for the same.
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More security personnel have deployed in and around 'Swasthya Bhawan,' and traffic is being regulated by the police.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened in and around ‘Swasthya Bhawan’ in Salt Lake near Kolkata, and traffic movement has been regulated, an official said. Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya had advised the demonstrators on Tuesday not hold their protests near the 'Swasthya Bhawan' for the preservation of law and order, PTI reported.
