Ahmedabad: Hundreds of ASHA workers from across Gujarat staged a protest march in Ahmedabad on Sunday, demanding fixed salaries, minimum wages, pension benefits and improved working conditions.Under the banner of the Gujarat Rajya Health Worker Union, the women marched along Ashram Road and raised slogans over what they described as long-pending demands of thousands of ASHA workers in the state.The union warned that the agitation would intensify, with protests planned at district headquarters across Gujarat on Monday.Among their key demands was the provision of mobile phones to enable them to carry out the increasing volume of digital reporting and services required as part of their duties. Protesters also alleged that some workers faced threats of dismissal for raising issues related to wages and workplace conditions.Carrying banners, several participants said many ASHA workers had completed more than 15 years of service but were yet to be recognised as govt employees. They urged the state to consider their years of service while determining remuneration and social security benefits.ASHA workers are community-based health volunteers under the National Health Mission (NHM). They serve as a vital link between rural communities and the public healthcare system, promoting maternal and child health, facilitating access to medical services and spreading awareness about health and sanitation.
