Hyderabad, June 23 (NSS): CPI(M) State Secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram today wrote an open letter to CM A. Revanth Reddy and urged him to withdraw the State government’s decision to hold a test for all Asha workers of the State.
In his letter, he told the CM that the authorities had decided to conduct the test for the ASHA workers in the State and added that the process was said to have been initiated on the basis of a circular from the Central government. He said 28,000 ASHA workers were panicked due to this decision. “There are concerns that job security of the Asha workers may be at risk. The officials were saying the test is meant to increase the skills of the Asha workers and not lay them off. If the same is true, it is enough to give training. The training has already been given on many occasions. Now conducting an exam and giving a certificate does not mean that there is no risk of some people being sacked.
The Central government’s decision raises many doubts. The Asha workers have played a key role in the corona period. The World Health Organization has also announced an award for “Global Leaders of Health”. They have been providing health services to women and boys and girls for the last 33 years in tribal areas and 19 years in the plain areas of the State. Special services are also provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers by the Asha workers ,” he said.
He said by taking note of Asha workers’ concerns, the previous BRS government had announced that the exam would not be conducted. “But, it is worrying that the State government has decided to conduct the test again. The exam was not conducted anywhere in the country despite a circular issued by the Central government. I don’t understand why the top officials are so keen that the decision of the BJP government at the Centre should be implemented in Telangana State immediately.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has been demanding that the decision be withdrawn immediately. The Ashas have already brought their problems to the notice of the State authorities. The CPI(M) wants the Asha workers not to be put to any tests, implement the promises made by your government during and after the elections and solve many issues like their salaries, insurance and retirement benefits,” he urged. (NSS)
