Tensions boiled over in and around Kolkata on Wednesday as police moved to detain scores of ASHA workers who were attempting to reach the state health department headquarters, 'Swasthya Bhawan.' The health activists, who have been on a "cease-work" strike since December 23, had planned a massive march to demand a hike in their monthly honorarium and better job security.
The crackdown began early in the morning at major transit points. Police reportedly set up heavy barricades at Sealdah and Howrah railway stations to intercept workers arriving from the districts. One worker from Paschim Dinajpur described being trapped inside Howrah station since 6:30 AM, with many of her colleagues forced to sit on the platforms in protest after being blocked from the exits.
The police described the detentions as a "precautionary measure" to maintain law and order. By mid-morning, several protesters who did manage to reach Salt Lake were picked up near Swasthya Bhawan, where security has since been tightened and traffic diverted. This latest confrontation follows a warning from Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya, who on Tuesday urged the workers to call off the march, citing safety concerns.
The demand that lies at the root of the conflict is that of financial security. "The ASHA workers are demanding a fixed monthly salary of at least ₹15,000 and are also demanding an increase from the performance-linked allowance system to a fixed salary system," said a report. They also demand an insurance cover of ₹5 lakh "in case of death while on duty."
Although marches were staged on January 8 and January 12, the union claims their demand for a health department top-level meeting has not been addressed, giving rise to the current impasse. With the 'cease-work' underway for the fifth week, the impasse is now affecting rural health services in the state.
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