Haryana: ASHA workers strike enters 73rd day, protest held near CM's residence

Karnal (Haryana) [India], October 18 (ANI): Asha workers in Ramnagar continued their strike on the 73rd day on Wednesday, protesting near the Chief Minister's residence.
The workers are demanding a minimum wage of Rs 26,000, health worker status, and post-retirement benefits, among other things.
Several rounds of talks have been held between the workers and the government, but no solution has been found yet. The workers have accused the government of dragging its feet on the issue.
Kavita an ASHA worker told ANI, "Currently we get a salary of around Rs 4,000 and some incentives, an ASHA worker can earn Rs 8,000 per month, which is not enough to sustain the family, several rounds of talks have been held with the government but the government has not found any solution. The government is not taking things out, the government is pushing things forward, due to which now 73 days have passed since the strike."

Roshni, an ASHA worker said, "We demand that the minimum wage should be Rs 26 thousand, they should get the status of health workers, they should get the benefits after retirement, and Asha workers should get an assistance amount of Rs 5 lakh on their death, the protest is going on with many such demands."
On Wednesday, the workers raised slogans against the government and sang songs in protest. Ramnagar police station in-charge Sushil Kumar said that the workers had been warned not to go beyond a certain point towards the CM's residence.

Ramnagar police station in-charge Sushil Kumar said, "ASHA workers are calling for a 24-hour strike here and are protesting. If they go further from here towards the CM's residence, we will stop them there. We have made strict security arrangements." (ANI)