Chandigarh: Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who is heading the cabinet sub-committee constituted to resolve employees’ issues, on Thursday directed the state health and family welfare department to write to the Union govt to seek an increase in incentives provided to Accredited Social Health Activist (Asha) workers and facilitators.The minister said the Union govt must be urged to enhance these payments under the existing scheme, which functions on a 60:40 financial ratio between the Centre and the state.Cheema’s statement came during a meeting with a delegation of ASHA Workers Facilitators Sanjha Morcha. He also met members of the Powercom and Transco Theka Mulazam Union, and directed Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Ltd (PSTCL) to frame a policy to resolve their demand of contractual employment, instead of outsourced jobs.Cheema said he had also asked the health department to ensure a life insurance cover for each ASHA worker and facilitator. “Any legitimate demand raised by a union, which can be resolved directly at the departmental level, must be addressed without delay,” he said.
