Srinagar: In a press conference held today in Srinagar, M.Y. Tarigami, President of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Jammu & Kashmir State Committee, passionately called upon the administration to address the grievances of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers who have been protesting for over a month.
In a statement issued here, Tarigami said: “These workers have been demanding the implementation of recommendations from the 45th and 46th Indian Labour Conferences, held during 2013-14, which pertain to the rights and welfare of scheme workers.”
“ASHA workers, who play a crucial role in India’s healthcare system, have been protesting across all districts of the region, demanding their due wages and legitimate rights. Their primary demands include regularization as workers, inclusion under the ambit of the Minimum Wages Act, and access to all social security benefits, including pension,” he said.
President Tarigami, a prominent advocate for labor rights, emphasized the importance of promptly addressing the concerns of ASHA workers. He urged the administration to engage in dialogue with their union representatives to find mutually agreeable solutions, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
During the press conference, President Tarigami also revealed that a memorandum from ASHA workers had been submitted to the Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir. The memorandum, accompanied by a letter from President Tarigami, seeks immediate attention to the pressing issues faced by these workers, who are on the frontlines of healthcare delivery in the region.