Corona warriors allege bribe demand, CMO says will look into it

GORAKHPUR: Playing a key role in the battle against coronavirus, 180 Asha workers of Sahjanwa’s Pali primary health centre here have accused some health staff of demanding a bribe of Rs 200 each in order to pay them an honorarium of Rs 2200 each.

The Asha workers are formally known as accredited social health activists or community health workers. When contacted for his comment on the issue, chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Shrikant Tiwari says, “Over 98% of Ashas are paid their honorarium well on time, but if there is any complaint, I will see to it myself and talk to the BMO (block medical officer).” Asha workers say they are now tasked with visiting remote villages and finding about out those who have returned home from other districts, preparing their records .

In normal times, they look after pregnant women and malnourished children.

Urmila Devi, block level president of the Asha association, says, “Ashas are paid only when they cough up a bribe of Rs 200 each, which is collected even in this lockdown period. Officials threaten to oust us if we refuse to pay up. When we take up the matter with authorities, they do not listen. Till now, we kept paying Rs 200, but now the times are different due to Covid-19.” Another Asha worker Nilesh Pandey says, “Don’t Ashas have children? Don’t they have mouths to feed? Don’t they need to protect their families from coronavirus? If we keep paying, how will we eat? We are putting our lives at risk by travelling to villages and finding out those who returned from outside. I have been given just a pair of gloves and a mask. I do not have a mask for my children and husband.”Social activist Rajan Yadav aka Arthi Baba says he has made a complaint at the PMO portal.