Amneet P Kumar, Mission Director of National Health Mission, Haryana, on July 20 appealed to the ASHA workers to withdraw their agitation and join their duties immediately.

The file related to their incentive file has been sent to the Finance Department and after financial approval, directions will be issued accordingly. The Mission Director said Haryana is the first state in the country to give highest rate of incentives to ASHA workers. Their monthly fixed honorarium has been increased from Rs 1000 to Rs 4000. Besides, weightage would be given to eligible ASHA workers in the appointments or engagement of regular or contractual Multi-purpose Health Worker (Female) and staff nurses.

She added that their performance-based incentives for five major activities has also been increased. In the cases of Institutional delivery of Jananai Suraksha Yojna (JSY) for Rural, the incentive is increased from Rs 300 to Rs 400, and for Urban from earlier Rs 200 to Rs 300 at present.

Similarly, incentive for Routine Immunization of Children is increased from Rs 150 to Rs 250, for Ante natal care (ANC) of Pregnant women from Rs 250 to Rs 350 now, for ensuring spacing between births incentive would be Rs 550 which was earlier Rs 500. She said ASHA workers are providing health services to the people especially to the pregnant women and children in the rural areas. They have been urged to join their duties immediately so that the work to provide health services did not suffer, she added.