Bashir Assad
Srinagar, Oct23; Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) Tuesday observed a day long protest demonstration here at Municipal Park demanding regularization of their services, State Secretary CPI(M) , M Y Tarigami led the protest rally.
Speaking on the occasion, Tarigami lambasted the state and central governments for totally ignoring the crucial component of the much hyped National Rural Health Mission. He said the only achievement of NRHM on ground is the selfless service of the Asha worker and unfortunately, the woman activist alone is the victim of official apathy.
However, what was interesting to note was that Tarigami repeatedly urged the Asha workers to stay united leaving aside the political ideologies and affiliations if they really want to be heard by the administration.
“ if you want to achieve your goals, stay united and fight as a strong unit, leave politics and political affiliations aside” Tarigami said. Pertinently Tarigami reiterated the words for more than once leaving space for inferences wide open.
However, the message was clear in the sense that with which momentum the working class unions and associations come into for with the launch of each centrally sponsored scheme under social sector, they recede from the scene with same momentum. Actually the trade union/working class politics in Jammu and Kashmir has never flourished given the short temperament of the work force so involved in the class-based politics. And every time Tarigami has to bite a bullet. Secondly, if at all the class war stays on for some time, it disintegrates the moment, elections to the state assembly come close. And this is what exactly Tarigami has realized.
though, Asha workers Tuesday formally launched their union affiliated to Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), yet Tarigami hopes against hope-something having very remote chances of translating into or consolidating on. But at the same time yet another ready made platform available to the Marxist leader.
And yes, politics is the art of possibilities and Tarigami knows this art very well. May be he may not be able to have electoral gains from class-struggle politics, but the platform belongs to him.
Meanwhile General Secretary All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers & Helpers, K. Hemlata while addressing the rally said that ASHAs are working for the betterment of health services for the benefit of the community at large. ASHA workers work tirelessly and selflessly, despite all the difficulties they are confronted with.
“The government must acknowledge the contribution made by the ASHA workers in the implementation of the NRHM and the improvement of the health status of the poor, especially of mothers and infants, in rural India and concede their justified demands”, she added.
|
