| Increase in COVID-19 cases among frontline workers raises alarm | | ASHA, Anganwari workers cry for providing safety gears, health insurance | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 15: At a time when COVID-19 cases are increasing among from frontline workers particularly those who are associated with health facilities, the fear among ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers of getting infected with COVID-19 is getting deepened due to the lack of safety gears while performing their duties.
Sources told Early Times that ASHA workers and Anganwari workers have alleged that they have been meted out with step motherly treatment by not providing them safety gears like PPEs and health insurance.
They further informed that most of the workers are not even getting their salaries for the months. Many of them are not entitled to Rs 50 lakh insurance package announced by the centre; which does not cover the treatment of Corona or quarantine expenses.
“Not only above mentioned workers, even thousands of workers providing essential services to the people such as food, water, electricity, banking, factories, construction, transport services, panchayat/Municipal sanitation workers, and police are exposed to the risk. Many of them are not given adequate safety gears. The government is not yet ready to announce a comprehensive package for strengthening the public health system,” they added.
They further said providing safety gears for all frontline workers; PPEs for those who are engaged in containment area and red zones should be made mandatory. “Frequent, random and free COVID test to all frontline workers, Rs 50 lakh insurance cover to all frontline workers covering all deaths on duty, also coverage of treatment for Covid-19 for the entire families should be announced,” they informed. |
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