If India’s record on maternal and infant mortality rates has improved of late, a large part of the credit goes to lakhs of women who work as ASHAs (accredited social health activists) under the National Health Mission (NHM).

However, most of these women are poorly paid and have been seeking the status of ‘health workers’ to get social security and other benefits.

On Monday, thousands of ASHA workers from 11 states rallied and submitted around 50 lakh signatures to the Centre, demanding that NHM be made a permanent government programme, higher allocation of six per cent of GDP for health, and minimum wages of at least ₹18,000 a month, among others, CITU said in a statement.

At present, ASHAs and their assistants are paid an honorarium that varies from State to State. While some States pay as low as ₹400, some pay up to ₹5,000.

Gathering in Delhi under the banner of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the ASHA workers also opposed any move to privatise public health, as proposed by the NITI Aayog.

The Health Secretary assured the delegation that their demands would be looked into, CITU leaders said, adding that they were planning a ‘bigger’ action in November.

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