The Delhi Cabinet on May 22 approved increased incentives to ASHA workers by doubling the core incentive to Rs 3,000.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, also doubled incentives payable in different identified categories. "In order to support ASHA workers during pregnancy, it has been decided to provide them maternity benefit of Rs 2,000 per month for six months during perinatal period," a statement from the Chief Minister's Office said.

"ASHA workers provide a link and help to improve health indices for around 100 lakh plus population living in vast pockets of urban slums and difficult areas, depending upon health indicator, poor sanitation, water supply, prevalent malnutrition, communicable disease burden and an adverse female sex ratio," the statement added. There is one ASHA worker for every 2,000 population (400 households).

The ASHA workers are expected to devote at least three to four hours every day for five days a week to their activities, including home visits, attending health and nutrition days and outreach sessions. The Cabinet also approved a Health Department proposal to increase bed capacity of a new hospital at Burari from 200 to 768 beds. According to the information provided by the PWD, 65 per cent of the project work and 85 per cent of hospital structure has been completed so far.

"The project was reviewed and it was decided that some structural adjustment is required to accommodate more beds in the new hospital, which will provide healthcare to the residents of north Delhi. "This new hospital is a seven-storey structure. The proposal to have more beds will be achieved with a revised estimate of Rs 265.80 crore instead of Rs 200 crore earlier," the statement added.