SRINAGAR: ASHA workers in Jammu and Kashmir receive an assured monthly incentive of Rs 3,000, in addition to performance-based payments linked to various national health programmes, the government informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
The government said the assured amount comprises Rs 2,000 for routine activities and Rs 1,000 under Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC). ASHAs also receive task-based incentives for work undertaken under different national health programmes.
The information was provided in response to a question by MLA Sunil Bhardwaj.
According to the government, ASHA workers function as honorary community health volunteers under the National Health Mission (NHM) and perform frontline roles in maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation and community welfare, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Asked whether the existing incentives were commensurate with the responsibilities of ASHA workers, the government said revisions were made in accordance with policy decisions of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It also clarified that Jammu and Kashmir does not have a separate mechanism for periodically revising ASHA incentives according to inflation or changes in the cost of living.
“Revision of task-based incentives is undertaken as per policy decisions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India,” the government said in its reply.
The government also outlined social security and healthcare benefits available to eligible ASHA workers.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), ASHAs are entitled to life insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh in the event of natural death. Under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), they receive coverage of Rs 2 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability. The annual premiums for these covers are funded under the NHM framework.
Eligible ASHA workers can also access benefits under AB-PMJAY/SEHAT, which provides cashless secondary and tertiary healthcare coverage of up to Rs 15 lakh per family per year.
The government further said ASHA workers could enrol in the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme. Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries are entitled to an assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after attaining the age of 60, subject to the applicable provisions.
