The Meghalaya government has praised its ASHAFirst mobile payment application for slashing the amount of time that the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) have to wait to receive their remuneration from 120 days to just five.
The app was launched in March and, through it, payments of Rs 12.29 crore have been made to ASHAs in Meghalaya, a government press release stated today.
Before the app, it was a long and cumbersome process that stretched for over four months just so that the ASHAs could receive their small remuneration.
“Our government has accorded topmost priority to healthcare and one of the key pillars of the entire health delivery system are the thousands of ASHA women workers across the state. They have played a stellar role in Meghalaya’s successful fight against the Covid pandemic,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma was quoted as saying. “Making the payment process of ASHA workers faster and hassle free was the least we could have done in return for their countless sacrifices and hard work.”
The state currently has 7,067 registered ASHAs, with every village having at least one. ASHA workers and helpers now receive Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,000 per month (from the state), up from Rs 1,500 and Rs 500 respectively. Including the central government’s share, ASHA workers now receive Rs 7,500 per month and helpers Rs 3,250.
