Unmasking the Unsung Heroes: The Plight of ASHA Workers in the Age of COVID-19
Life Chronicles of Asha Volunteers: Daily Activities and Commitments
By ARPITA ROY
Amidst the cries of "Knock! Knock!", an Asha worker in a colorful kurti, mask, and personal protection gear, at the doorstep of a house in Bhastara, a remote village in Bengal. The on-duty Asha worker checks for any symptoms, writes down the household names, and moves on to the next house in the blistering heat. These semi-literate female warriors, tirelessly battling the virus on the frontlines, are the unspoken heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The villages began seeing the return of migrant workers when the pandemic hit. But the lack of awareness and literacy became a significant challenge as some chose to hide while others took shelter in the local schools. Sandhya Dey, a supervisor for Asha workers, is one of those brave souls working relentlessly to ensure everyone's safety. When asked about her junior colleague's complaints regarding skipping the quarantine center visits, Sandhya provides an honest response, "We're just doing as ordered."
The pandemic caused a spike in positive COVID-19 cases, transforming the once green zone area into a red zone. Balancing work in such a volatile environment is another challenge for these frontline workers. As they go from house to house, checking for potential cases, they risk their own lives. Among the ASHA workers, one of Sandhya's childhood friends tested positive for the virus, and another family member passed away due to comorbidities.
But while these health workers are risking their lives, the majority of the population is trying to avoid the lockdown monotony. "Everyone talks about us, but no one listens" says a frontline worker, urging people to pay attention to the needs of these unsung heroes on the ground.
Their domestic lives, however, have drastically changed as they face the threat of bringing the virus home with them. Sanitizing everything from clothes to fruits and vegetables has become a daily essential task. In Sandhya's household, her husband, who is a heart patient, further adds to the anxiety.
The girls at home, though, are taking up domestic responsibilities with dedication. From preparing meals to cleaning clothes, they are handling everything with efficiency. This unexpected shift in roles has brought the family closer.
During the initial stages of the pandemic, the Asha workers lacked the necessary protective equipment. They tried using raincoats as substitutes until several workers fell ill. "We don't care what happens to us, we'll do our jobs!" they declared.
But as the situation worsened, a troubling story emerged. When a family member of an Asha worker tested positive for COVID-19, they were met with harsh treatment and prejudice. Sandhya, receiving a call from her colleague, was heartbroken to learn of the mistreatment. She offered comfort, promising to take action and support her junior through the difficult time.
The pandemic has led to a Question of life and death, a test of survival. The world watches as economies crumble, politicians squabble, and privileged individuals hoard resources. But amidst all this chaos, there lies a far greater crisis. The eyes of these unsung heroes speak the helplessness of humans in the face of nature and calamity.
The story could have been different had international flights been stopped earlier. However, once the virus entered the nation, it began to multiply and spread at an alarming rate, necessitating a complete lockdown. The question remains, who is bearing the brunt of this pandemic?
Our privileged lifestyles have become a source of suffering for the ASHA workers. We see them as the source of the virus, but the truth is, it was the privileged who brought it here. We comfortably make homemade pizzas, oblivious to the fact that others are struggling to meet their basic needs. We must be compassionate, extend love, and share resources if we want humanity to survive the test of time.
Revealing the Hidden Struggle: The challenges faced by ASHA Workers during COVID-19
The Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers in India faced significant obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic:
1. Inequitable Compensation and Unsecured Work ArrangementASHA workers are officially considered as voluntary community health workers and receive an honorarium rather than formal wages, placing them at a disadvantage compared to unskilled laborers. This informal employment status means they receive irregular payments, lack access to regular wages, social security, or pension benefits, despite their critical health duties including vaccinations, maternal and child health services, and disease control efforts.
2. Unfair Demand for Increased Workload without SupportDuring the pandemic, ASHA workers were at the forefront, conducting door-to-door surveillance, contact tracing, public health education, and vaccination. Despite this essential work, their responsibilities multiplied without proportional increases in remuneration or recognition. Critics argue that governments fail to provide basic entitlements and benefits.
3. Diminished Respect and AppreciationASHA workers often experience social and systemic injustices in terms of recognition for their roles. Their protests — such as the longstanding strike in Kerala — reflect ongoing struggles for dignity and recognition of their contributions to public health systems acclaimed for their effective disease control.
4. Delayed or Unfulfilled Promises to Honor ASHA WorkersIn some states like Uttarakhand, ASHA workers staged protests demanding fair wages, pensions, and job security, as well as formal recognition that remain unmet. Despite political promises, as made by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand regarding honoraria increases, workers express frustration at the government's failure to follow through.
SummaryASHA workers were critical frontline health caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but faced systemic difficulties including poor and irregular pay, lack of employment benefits, increased workload without adequate support, lack of recognition, and failure by authorities to ensure promised improvements in their conditions. These problems led to prolonged protests and strikes, highlighting the need for reform in the way community health workers are treated and compensated in India.
- ASHA workers in India, unsung heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic, braved the virus on the frontlines in remote villages.
- Amidst the virus outbreak, new challenges emerged, balancing work in a volatile environment being one of them.
- Risking their lives, ASHA workers moved from household to household, checking for potential cases.
- The pandemic brought a troubling story to light when an Asha worker was met with harsh treatment and prejudice.
- Sandhya, a supervisor for Asha workers, offered comfort and promised support to her junior colleague during this difficult time.
- The problem of a lack of protective equipment was prevalent, prompting Asha workers to use raincoats as substitutes.
- Further complicating matters, a spike in COVID-19 cases transformed once green zone areas into red zones.
- Adding to the Anxiety, the domestic lives of ASHA workers face the threat of bringing the virus home with them.
- In Sandhya's household, her husband, a heart patient, further added to the worry.
- The girls at home, however, took up domestic responsibilities with dedication.
- The pandemic has caused a question of life and death, a test of survival for ASHA workers.
- The eyes of these unsung heroes speak the helplessness of humans in the face of nature and calamity.
- Had international flights been stopped earlier, the story could have been different.
- Despite their critical health duties, ASHA workers are often considered as voluntary community health workers and receive only an honorarium.
- This informal employment status means they receive irregular payments, lack access to regular wages, and social security benefits.
- During the pandemic, ASHA workers were at the forefront, conducting door-to-door surveillance, contact tracing, public health education, and vaccination.
- Despite this essential work, their responsibilities multiplied without proportional increases in remuneration or recognition.
- Critics argue that governments fail to provide basic entitlements and benefits to ASHA workers.
- ASHA workers often experience a lack of recognition for their roles.
- Their protests reflect ongoing struggles for dignity and recognition of their contributions to public health systems.
- In some states like Uttarakhand, ASHA workers staged protests demanding fair wages, pensions, and job security, as well as formal recognition.
- Despite political promises, as made by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand regarding honoraria increases, workers express frustration at the government’s failure to follow through.
- In general, workplace wellness, a crucial aspect of health and wellness, is often overlooked in various industries.
- Environmental science plays an important role in understanding the effects of climate change on our health, such as air pollution's impact on respiratory conditions.
- Renewable energy contributes to a healthier environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to chronic diseases like chronic kidney disease.
- Mental health, a crucial aspect for overall health and wellness, should not be neglected, especially in men's health.
- Skin care, eye health, and hearing are essential components of family health that often go unnoticed.
- Entrepreneurship, small business, investing, banking, and finance are essential components of wealth management and the housing market, playing a significant role in personal finance.
