Srinagar
Advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar on Wednesday distributed ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the next-of-kin of four deceased Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) who were working under National Health Mission scheme in the State.
Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, Mission Director NHM Bhupinder Kumar, Project Manager (ASHA) Dr Jitender Mehta and family members of deceased ASHAs were present on the occasion, the spokesman said.
Ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh each was provided to the legal heirs of the four ASHAs Maheena Akhter, resident of Kulgam district, Rimpy Sharma, Raj Begum and Parveen Akhter, all resident of district Poonch as a relief to the family.
The Advisor also asked MD NHM to adopt the practice of providing the facility of medical screening to all ASHA workers enrolled under NHM so that timely medical assistance is provided to them if needed.
MD NHM apprised the Advisor about the activities being carried out by the ASHA workers and said that they are playing an important role in all the NHM programmes and contributing to the improvement of vital indicators like implementing birth plans, infant mortality ratio, total fertility rate etc.
Keeping in view vital role being played by ASHAs in the Community Health, the State Government has decided to provide the Social Security Benefits to ASHAs under various categories which include Rs 5 lakh in case of death, Rs 2.5 lakh in case of disability and financial assistance up to Rs 2 lakh for medical conditions requiring intervention.
