CITU Condemns Arrest of ASHA Workers, Union Leaders Demanding Wage Hikes in AP, Haryana

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has strongly condemned the recent arrest of ASHA workers in Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. In both states, the ASHA workers have long been struggling for their rights, with a common demand being a hike in their wages.

The CITU slammed the YSR Congress-led Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday for arresting ASHA workers who wanted to submit to the officials a memorandum on their long-pending demands including hike in salaries and payment of allowances. According to the CITU, the AP government was giving ASHAs additional duties but not paying the allowances as promised, the Hindu reported. The trade union also took out a rally in Vishakhapatnam in support of the ASHA workers.

“We only wanted to give a representation to the DM & HO on our demands. Though the protest was originally planned at the Collectorate, the venue was changed in view of the ongoing Presidential Fleet Review. We condemn the arrests,” P. Mani, honorary president of the city ASHA workers union, was quoted as saying by the Hindu.

The CITU also condemned the repression of the ASHA workers’s protests, their arrest, and invoking of the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) against them by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Haryana government. The union also demanded the immediate release of the arrested leaders, including CITU Haryana State President Surekha.

The one-day strike was called on February 17 by the ASHA workers under banner of CITU-affiliated ASHA Workers Union Haryana.

The protesters were demanding the implementation of the agreement on their wage hike as made by Health Minister Anil Vij with the union in January this year.

“Instead of implementing its promise, the government of Haryana invoked ESMA on 15th February evening. The Haryana BJP Government known for its anti-democratic arrogance towards the working people, started house arrest of CITU and ASHA workers Union Leaders in several districts since 16th evening,” the CITU said in its statement. CITU state President and President of ASHA Workers Union Haryana Surekha, General Secretary of ASHA Workers Union Haryana Suneeta, AIDWA state General Secretary Savita and other leaders were arrested in Kurukshetra on the morning of February 17 on their way to Ambala, the constituency of Anil Vij. According to the union, the police stopped their vehicles, manhandled and arrested the leaders. Several other CITU, SKS and ASHA Union leaders were arrested in many districts including Bhiwani.

“Vehicles were stopped, ASHA workers were harassed, even the drivers of vehicles not even spared, they were beaten up brutally. Workers sat on roads wherever they were stopped and started protest,” the CITU said.

The union also condemned “the authoritarian attitude and repression” on Anganwadi workers’ strike since December 8, 2021. Anganwadi workers and helpers under the joint coordination committee of unions have been on strike for implementation of wage hike by the central government and the announcement on increase in wages made by the Haryana CM in the Assembly in 2018.

The CITU called on the Haryana government to withdraw the draconian ESMA, release the arrested leaders and workers immediately. It also demanded the state government to implement its agreement made with the ASHA and Anganwadi unions.

Meanwhile, the Haryana state committee of CITU has called for protest throughout the state against the arrests and repression of dissent.